Nylon 12

Overview

The only engineering plastic of natural origin (derived from castor oil), it is a polyamide which, unlike the other nylons, does not absorb humidity. It has all the good mechanical features of polyamides: tensile stress, compressive strength, wear resistance, etc. Moisture content does not influence its shock resistance. It has very good ageing and low temperature resistance.

Benefits:

• Tensile stress, compressive strength and shock resistance values stable in moist as well as dry environments.
• Wear resistance, very good even in dusty or demanding environments ageing and low temperature resistance.
• Self-lubricating.
• Low friction coefficient generally for sliding applications it does not require lubricators.
• It’s physiologically inert and is used in food processing machinery.
• As it’s not hygroscopic and its electrical properties are stable, it’s widely used for electrical applications such as insulators.
• It’s resistant to solvents.

Weaknesses:

• Although Nylon 12 has all the excellent mechanical features of polyamides without their weakest point (hygroscopicity), its high price prevents wider usage.

Applications:

Nylon 12 has all the excellent mechanical features of polyamides without their weakest point, hygroscopicity. Its higher price does however prevent wider usage.