Nylon Injection Molding
Nylon is often chosen for its strength and lubricity, especially in loaded environments. At AdvancTEK, we guide customers to the right nylon grade based on their design and load requirements — whether the application calls for tough, wear-resistant gears or flexible fuel lines exposed to harsh chemicals.
Our strong supplier partnerships help in selecting the best resin for specific applications, and our extensive experience in processing and tooling design means we deliver repeatable, high-quality parts across industries including:
- Industrial
- Power sports and recreation
- Automotive
- Construction and agriculture
- Medical
- Telecommunications
Is Nylon Injection Molding Right For You?
Nylon is often chosen for its strength and lubricity, especially in loaded environments. If your application involves gears, bearings, structural housings, or mechanical parts that need to perform reliably under stress, nylon is typically the right material for the job.
As our engineering team puts it: nylon 6 is tough and good for gears and bearings, while nylon 6/6 offers higher tensile strength for structural components. Nylon 12 is used for flexible fuel lines and tubing due to its lower moisture absorption and better chemical resistance. Understanding which grade fits your application is where we start every conversation.
Understanding Nylon Grades
Not all nylons are created equal. Nylon 6 and nylon 6/6 are not typically used together with nylon 12 due to their different applications. Selecting the right grade is critical, and our team guides customers to the right nylon grade based on their design and load requirements.
Nylon 6
Toughness & Wear Resistance
Nylon 6 is tough and good for gears and bearings. It delivers reliable wear resistance and performs well in applications with mechanical stress and repetitive motion.
Nylon 6/6
Structural Strength & Heat Resistance
Nylon 6/6 is easier to process and has a higher melt point. It’s suitable for higher tensile strength and structural components, such as power-tool casing i.e. chainsaws, hand-drills. However, nylons are hygroscopic (absorb moisture) — which makes proper material handling essential.
Nylon 12
Chemical Resistance & Flexibility
Nylon 12 is used for flexible fuel lines and tubing due to its lower moisture absorption and better chemical resistance. It’s the right choice when parts are exposed to harsh chemical environments and need to remain flexible.
Managing Moisture in Nylon Processing
Moisture is one of the biggest challenges in nylon injection molding. Nylon absorbs moisture from the air, and as our team explains, improper drying can lead to cosmetic issues and part performance failures. Managing moisture sensitivity throughout the entire process is critical to producing quality parts.
Here’s how AdvancTEK handles it:
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Drying process — We manage moisture by using dryers and keeping material closed to minimize moisture absorption before it ever reaches the press -
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Controlled processing — Moisture levels are monitored throughout production, because nylon that isn’t properly dried will cause both surface defects and structural failures. Moisture levels are monitored with in-line dew point meters on the material dryers and verified in our lab with our moisture analyzer to verify the material is dried to specification. -
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Post-molding conditioning — After molding, parts are sometimes placed in a bag with a little water to keep them pliable and prevent cracking -
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Quality assurance — Our in-house quality lab verifies material conditions and part integrity at every stage of the process
What Makes Nylon Molding Challenging
Nylon behaves differently than resins like polypropylene or ABS. As our engineering team explains, nylon stays in place once molded, so understanding its behavior during filling is absolutely crucial. That’s why tooling design for repeatable, high-quality parts requires deep processing knowledge.
Key challenges our team navigates include:
- Gating precision — Nylon requires specific gating locations to avoid worming during the filling process. Getting the gate location wrong means material won’t flow where it needs to go
- Tooling for glass-filled compounds — Glass is commonly used with nylon, providing strength but also challenging tool wear. This means using harder steel for gates and wear points to maintain tool life
- Machine considerations — Understanding barrel and screw requirements, including screw compression and barrel size, is essential for consistent processing
- Material expertise — Knowledge in drying requirements, melt flow, and processing is what separates a good nylon molder from one that produces defective parts
Why AdvancTEK for Nylon Injection Molding
What separates a good nylon injection molding partner from others comes down to knowledge — knowledge in drying requirements, melt flow, and processing. Our team’s extensive experience in processing and tooling design is a key differentiator, and our ability to offer various molding processes gives us a competitive edge that benefits every customer.
Predictive Engineering
We use predictive tools like mold flow to design tools and gates effectively, optimizing fill patterns and identifying potential issues before a single part is produced.
Material Science Expertise
Strong supplier partnerships help in selecting the best resin for specific applications. We guide customers to the right nylon grade based on their design and load requirements.
Multi-Process Capability
Our ability to offer various molding processes gives us a competitive edge. We can guide your project to injection molding, RIM, thermoforming, or compression molding — whichever process is the right fit.
Proven Track Record
When a power sports customer needed help molding nylon successfully, AdvancTEK quickly turned parts around in 48 hours, demonstrating the kind of expertise and responsiveness our team delivers.
U.S. and Mexico Manufacturing
Our facilities in the US and Mexico allow for flexibility in production requirements and geopolitical changes. Being close to customers, especially for large parts, helps reduce freight costs significantly.
Quality & Automation
Understanding material properties and tooling investments is central to how we work. We emphasize automation and quality control in large part manufacturing to deliver consistent results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nylon grades does AdvancTEK process?
We process nylon 6, nylon 6/6, and nylon 12. Nylon 6 is tough and good for gears and bearings. Nylon 6/6 is easier to process and has a higher melt point, making it suitable for higher tensile strength and structural components. Nylon 12 is used for flexible fuel lines and tubing due to its lower moisture absorption and better chemical resistance. Nylon 6 and nylon 6/6 are not typically used together with nylon 12 due to their different applications.
How does AdvancTEK manage moisture sensitivity in nylon?
We manage moisture by using dryers and keeping material closed to minimize moisture absorption. Improper drying can lead to cosmetic issues and part performance failures, so we monitor conditions throughout production. After molding, parts are sometimes placed in a bag with a little water to keep them pliable and prevent cracking.
Can AdvancTEK handle glass-filled nylon compounds?
Yes. Glass is commonly used with nylon, providing strength but also challenging tool wear. We address this by using harder steel for gates and wear points, and our team has deep knowledge of barrel and screw requirements needed for glass-filled compounds. Tooling design for repeatable, high-quality parts is central to how we approach every glass-filled nylon project.
What industries does AdvancTEK serve with nylon injection molding?
We serve power sports and recreation, industrial, automotive, medical, telecommunications, and construction and agriculture. Our ability to offer various molding processes gives us a competitive edge across these markets, and our facilities in the US and Mexico allow for flexibility in production requirements.
What makes nylon harder to mold than other plastics?
Nylon stays in place once molded, so understanding its behavior is crucial. It requires specific gating locations to avoid worming during the filling process, and machine and tooling considerations like screw compression and barrel size all play a role. Knowledge in drying requirements, melt flow, and processing is what separates a good nylon molder from the rest.