At Aetna Plastics, we provide high-performance engineering plastics built for demanding industrial environments. Nylon is one of the most widely used engineering thermoplastics, valued for its outstanding strength, wear resistance, and ability to replace metal in bearing and mechanical applications. Whether you’re fabricating gears, bushings, or wear components for a production line, nylon delivers the durability and machinability your application demands.
What is Nylon?
Nylon is a synthetic polyamide thermoplastic known for its exceptional toughness, dimensional stability, and resistance to wear, abrasion, and chemicals. The two most common grades available in stock shapes are Nylon 6 (cast) and Nylon 6/6 (extruded). While both share core properties like high mechanical strength, stiffness, and good fatigue resistance, each offers distinct advantages depending on the application. Nylon is frequently used as a lightweight, self-lubricating replacement for metal bearings and bushings, reducing weight, noise, and the need for external lubrication.
Why Choose Nylon?
Nylon is a proven performer for bearing, wear, and structural applications across a wide range of industries.
Key Properties:
- High Strength & Toughness: Excellent tensile strength and impact resistance for load-bearing parts
- Outstanding Wear & Abrasion Resistance: Ideal for components subject to continuous friction and movement
- Self-Lubricating: Low coefficient of friction reduces or eliminates the need for external lubrication
- Chemical & Corrosion Resistance: Withstands exposure to hydrocarbons, alkalis, and many industrial chemicals
- Lightweight Metal Replacement: Weighs a fraction of bronze or steel while offering comparable performance in many applications
- Good Machinability: Machines cleanly and holds tight tolerances with proper tooling
- FDA/USDA Compliant Grades: Available for food processing and food-contact applications
Standard Shapes and Forms
Aetna Plastics offers nylon in a variety of stock shapes to support both standard and custom machining:
- Sheet: Available in a range of thicknesses for wear plates, liners, and fabricated components
- Rod: Broad selection of diameters for bushings, bearings, gears, and turned parts
- Tube: Standard and custom sizes for sleeves, spacers, and cylindrical components
- Machined Parts: CNC-fabricated components based on your drawings or specifications
Common Applications for Nylon
Nylon’s combination of toughness, low friction, and wear resistance makes it a go-to material across a wide range of industries:
- Bearings & Wear Components: Bushings, bearings, wear pads, guide wheels, and slide bearings
- Power Transmission: Gears, pulleys, sprockets, sheaves, and rollers
- Food Processing: Conveyor components, rollers, scrapers, and cutting surfaces (FDA grades)
- Chemical Processing: Valve seats, seals, and pump components resistant to chemical exposure
- Water & Wastewater Treatment: Wear strips, guide rails, and equipment components in wet environments
- General Manufacturing & OEM: Spacers, fixtures, housings, insulators, and structural supports
- Automotive & Transportation: Fuel system components, fasteners, and interior mechanisms
Grades and Colors
Nylon is available in natural (off-white/cream), black, and blue, depending on the grade. Specialty formulations include:
- MoS2-Filled (Moly-Filled): Enhanced wear and reduced friction for demanding bearing applications
- Oil-Filled: Self-lubricating grades with improved dimensional stability
- Glass-Filled: Higher stiffness, greater tensile strength, and increased heat resistance
- Heat-Stabilized: Extended service life at elevated operating temperatures
- FDA/USDA Compliant: Food-contact-safe grades for food and beverage processing equipment
Why Choose Aetna Plastics?
For over seven decades, Aetna Plastics has supported engineers, fabricators, and manufacturers with premium plastic materials and expert service. When durability, precision, and wear performance matter, our inventory of nylon products and machining capabilities are ready to meet your demands.
What Sets Us Apart:
- Extensive Inventory: Broad selection of Nylon 6 and Nylon 6/6 in sheet, rod, and tube
- Specialty Grade Expertise: Support for selecting MoS2-filled, oil-filled, glass-filled, and FDA-compliant grades
- Custom Fabrication: CNC machining, cut-to-size, and made-to-spec components
- Technical Guidance: In-house support for material selection and application engineering
- Fast, Reliable Service: Timely delivery and responsive customer care across the Midwest and Northeast
Ready to Work with Nylon?
Need a tough, self-lubricating material that can replace metal in bearing and wear applications? Nylon is trusted across industries for its strength, low friction, and long service life. Contact Aetna Plastics today to get a quote, check stock, or discuss your project with our material experts.
