Delrin and Nylon are the most frequent engineering-grade plastics used in machining and injection molding. Nylon is a polyamide while Delrin is an acetal homopolymer. The two materials have rather striking characteristics. Nylon is chemically strong and resistant providing high tensile strength and is typically strong and long-lasting. Delrin is famous for its outstanding wear resistance.
Além do mais, both materials have fairly good UV stability and are resistant to toxic chemicals. They also feature a low friction coefficient, which is beneficial in various applications. Engineers and designers should carefully compare Delrin and nylon. This article will guide you in selecting the right material for your needs.
What is Nylon?
Nylon is a synthetic product of polyamide that results from the condensation polymerization. The process utilizes dicarboxylic acids and diamines as monomers. On structural integrity, nylon has excellent chemical and heat resistance due to its strong base. No entanto, moisture absorption decreases the material stability. These problems must be well addressed by preconditioning treatments to improve its performance.
O que é Delrin?
Delrin is an acetal polymer. It’s scientifically known as polyoxymethylene or POM. Due to the discovered characteristics, it is most suitable for use in the machining and injection molding processes. Delrin comes with homopolymer and copolymer options.
Além disso, Delrin is a semi-crystalline polymer that has a high crystalline regularity degree, which gives the material its characteristic opaque white color. Different colors are possible for commercial uses. Due to its low friction and high stiffness, Delrin is ideal for use in accurate parts.
Head-to-Head Comparison between Nylon and Delrin
| Propriedade | Nylon | Delrin |
| Resistência química | Highly resistant to chemicals | Excellent chemical and solvent resistance |
| Temperature Resistance | Functions between 180°F and 190°F | Operates at slightly lower temperatures |
| Absorção de umidade | Absorbs up to 8% moisture | Absorbs only about 0.2% moisture |
| Resistência à tracção | 12,000 psi | 10,000 psi |
| Maquinabilidade | Easily machinable, less precise | Excelente usinabilidade, high dimensional stability |
| Resistência ao desgaste | Better wear resistance in dry conditions | Slightly poorer wear resistance when unfilled |
| Friction Properties | Low contact resistance | Low contact resistance |
| 3D Printing Capabilities | Compatible with various 3D printing methods | Requires additional preparation for 3D printing |
| Formulários | Used in textiles, automotivo, and engineering | Preferred for precision parts like gears and bearings |
Nylon and Delrin both offer distinct advantages for various manufacturing applications. Understanding their properties will help you choose the right material for your project needs.
Benefícios & Drawbacks of Nylon Vs. Delrin:
Delrin Advantages
- Lightweight Design: Few materials on the market are lighter than Delrin. Due to its high density, it shows incredible tensile strength and it can easily bear shocks and impacts.
- Excellent Tensile Strength: The fatigue strength of Delrin is significantly high, making it suitable for applications that require high performance and durability.
- Excelente usinabilidade: Delrin is easy to process with different machining methods. This leads to the precise manufacturing of sturdy components.
- High Stress and Strain Capacity: Delrin performs much better than metals when it comes to stress. Its characteristic of returning to its original shape after deformation makes it ideal for use in snap-fit and buckle parts.
- Moisture Resistance: Delrin is an ideal material because it doesn’t absorb moisture. This makes it great for humid areas. Its chemical resistance adds to the overall durability across several of the manufacturing processes.
Delrin Limitations
- Limited Resistance to Abrasion: Delrin may not work effectively in high-friction situations which may limit its application in some construction or industrial applications.
- Low Thermal Stability: Delrin has a relatively low glass transition temperature may not be ideal for high-thermal applications.
Nylon Advantages
- Ease of Fabrication: Delrin can be dyed or colored easily, making it a more customized option for producing accurate parts in minimal turnaround.
- Compatibility with 3D Printing: Nylon allows for different types of printing. Por isso, it allows the formation of complex patterns, as well as complex shapes.
- Flexibilidade: Nylon is versatile by nature nylon. Então, it can deliver good results in areas that may involve bending or stretching to offer good resilience in various conditions.
- Low Friction Properties: Due to its low Coefficient of friction, nylon is commonly used in parts of products where operation is required with minimum frictional forces.
Nylon Disadvantages
- Challenging Machinability: Nylon cannot be processed as easily as most high-performance materials, which can be problematic during processing.
- Sensitivity to Moisture: Nylon has poor resistance to moisture-absorbing characteristics which can reduce its functionality and stability in case of exposure to moisture, especially in the areas of high humidity.
Delrin Applications
Delrin finds application in numerous vital parts in different manufacturing industries. Here are some common applications:
- Partes automotivas: These are found in the window gears, grills, and seat belt parts of the automobile.
- Industrial machinery: Built into farm equipment, componentes do motor, rolamentos, and precision gears.
- Dispositivos médicos: Use in drug delivery systems and other medical instruments.
- Consumer products: Applied in zipper, door knobs, and valve applications.
- Componentes elétricos: Used for the switch, circuit holder, and other electrical appliance casings.
Nylon Applications
Nylon is widely used across various industries because it is a high-performance material. Here are some uses:
- Plastic hardware: Specialized in the production of numerous plastic components for various sectors.
- Componentes automotivos: Used in some parts of the engines, engrenagens, and structures of the car.
- Utensílios de cozinha: Nylon is used in fabricating cooking utensils and other kitchen equipment that are hard-wearing.
- Fixadores: Employed when making screws and bolts among other fasteners.
- Mechanical gears: Nylon is utilized in low-weight, high-strength applications such as gears and other power-transmitting components.
Delrin Grades for Rapid Prototyping
Delrin has numerous grades for meeting the demands of rapid prototyping. Common Delrin grades include:
Delrin 150
Delrin 150 is the standard for Delrin and is suitable for general applications. Machinability is very good and has high dimensional accuracy. This grade is perfect for parts that need accuracy.
Delrin 511P
Delrin 511P also provides higher dimensional stability and improved impact, and strength. It is mostly applied in engines where the part is heavily worn.
Delrin 570
Delrin 570 is endowed with glass-reinforced material to increase its strength. It has high rigidity and dimension stability when subjected to high strain.
Delrin AF
Delrin AF is a combination of PTFE for low friction as well as improved wear properties. It’s ideal to be used in any process that involves a smooth motion or low levels of friction. This grade is normally applied to gears and bearings.
Nylon grades For Rapid Prototyping
There are three of the most common grades that are used in rapid prototyping as follows.
Nylon 6
Nylon 6 is a homopolymer derived from six-carbon caprolactam. This grade has a lower crystallinity as compared to the other grades hence it is characterized by a high moisture absorption rate.
Nylon 6,6
Nylon 6,6 is formulated by a reaction between adipoyl chloride and hexamethylene diamine. It’s famous for its resilience and has a broad range of thermal and moisture stability. The material also has very good stability at high temperatures.
Nylon 12
Nylon 12 is synthesized by polymerization of lauric lactam with 12-methylene units. It is highly impact-resistant, including at low temperatures. Além disso, nylon 12 has good crack resistance and is relatively durable enough to produce highly reliable products.
Delrin vs. Nylon: How To Make a Right Choice?
The choice between Delrin vs Nylon typically depends on the specific project requirements. Both materials feature characteristics that make them suitable for different applications. Choosing the right one means achieving the best outputs in your particular process.
Delrin has high dimensional stability, impact strength, and low moisture absorption. It has great chemical resistance and remains stable over the years. While nylon works optimally under rubbing or friction. It is ideal for applications requiring durable parts, like interlocking gears. You’ll appreciate how long it lasts, even under pressure or extreme conditions.
Delrin is stronger than Nylon. Nylons have 12000 psi tensile strength while Delrin entails 10000 psi tensile strength. Each material is advantageous in different ways depending on the nature of the project operation at hand. Particularly in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), the parts undergo extensive flexing. Por esta razão, the material should be able to be both strong and elastic. These demands are effectively, required in active use as opposed to Delrin which is more brittle and may not hold up well to repeated flexing.
Resumo
In this detailed comparison, you can now consider your particular needs. As mentioned earlier each material excels in specific applications. Selecting the appropriate material is very important to your work. We also have a team of professional technical staff to provide excellent machining for both Delrin and nylon material at Precisão máxima. We assist you from the raw material procurement stage to the production of any given part. Contact us for an instant quote, and we will reply to you within 12 business hours.
Perguntas frequentes
1º trimestre. How to distinguish Nylon vs Delrin by strength?
Nylon has a greater tensile strength, about 12,000 psi, than Delrin which has about 10,000 psi. This makes Nylon better suited for applications under heavy stress than Delrin.
2º trimestre. Which of the two Nylon vs Delrin is more optimum for high temperatures?
Nylon has higher temperature strength. Thus it’s more appropriate for high-temperature use. As much as Delrin is very heat-sensitive, it’s not well-suitable for high-temperature applications.
3º trimestre. Is it possible to use Delrin in flexible applications?
Delrin has good dimensional stability, but it does not possess the flexibility of Nylon material. For the applications, in which there is a need for continuous bending, Nylon is normally more suitable.
4º trimestre. Is Nylon more suitable for machining than Delrin?
Delrin is easy to machine because it maintains its size and has high tensile strength.
Q5. What is a comparison between Nylon and Delrin in moisture absorption?
Delrin absorbs less water, making it ideal for humid environments. Nylon is quicker to absorb moisture than polyester and this may affect its performance in relatively humid environments.
