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Nylon – Polyamide

Nylon – Polyamide

plastic-shapes

Nylon (Polyamide)

PA6, PA6/6, PA6/10, PA6/12

Type 6, Type 6/6, Type 6/10, and Type 6/12 

Commonly known as PA6 (Cast) and PA66 (Extruded)
Available As Sheet, Rod, Tubular Bar, Tube and Cast Blocks and Shapes

Nylon material is used frequently in a self lubricating bearing surface or slide type applications. Resistant to most common chemicals.

One of the most popular work horse materials of the mechanical plastics family. The number designations that follow each type of nylon refers to the number of carbon atoms contained in the material’s prior polymerization process.

Used in Food Processing, Automotive, Fluid Handling, Electronics and Mining applications.

Other brand or trade names for Type 6/6 and Type 6: Vekton®, Unipa®, Tecast®, Nyoil®, Tecamid®, Sustamid®, Capron®, Nylatron®, Ensilon®, and Zytel®.  This wear resistant plastic is one of the best known superior mechanical plastic materials.

Various colors are available depending on the type of nylon need for your application.

Nylon is a High Tech Performance Plastic.

Large Natural Cast Nylon Tube Parts
A wide range of thicknesses are available in Natural and Black Nylon 66 sheet
Huge Cast Nylon type 6 looks like massive hockey puck
Nylon material is a durable material generally used for wear applications. Large cross sections and custom shapes can be made with the Type 6 Cast Nylon, as well as additives to increase desired properties. In the Cast Nylon Type 6, colors, lubricants, Food Grade Oil filled, stiffeners (glass), Molybdenum Disulfide or MD Filled, and other custom blends.

Why you should use Nylon/Polyamide:

  • Very Stiff Material – Great Wear Properties
  • Good Mechanical and Impact Properties
  • Self Lubricating & Abrasion Resistant
  • Many Varieties and formulations Available
  • Extremely Durable – High End Home Carpet and Tough Household Rope are Great Examples
  • Huge range of rod and sheet sizes – available as standard, also massive capacity on special order.
  • Nylon is ITAR compliant, and Nylon is RoHS compliant

Cast Nylon molded onto metal core as Gear

Common Specifications for Nylon 66 include: L-P-410 (LP410) with some exceptions, ASTM-D-4066 and ASTM-D-6779. Contact us for additional information on specifications.

This materials is…excellent wearing and very abrasion resistant. Introduced in 1938, and now one of the world’s most recognized plastic materials. Inherently dimensionally stable makes for consistent finished parts. An extremely tough material used in numerous demanding applications (like Carpet fiber and common Rope).

  • Door latches
  • Windshield wiper parts
  • Wire connectors
  • Fishing lines
  • Oil pans
  • Speedometer gears
  • Cooling fans
  • Bearings
  • Wear pads
  • Rollers
  • Sprockets

Large shapes can be produced in Cast Nylon Type 6

Materials Available As:

Nylon Sheet and Sheets:

.062″ (1/16″) – 6.0″ in Natural (Tan – Beige), Black and MD in 24″ X 48″ and up to 48″ X 96″
Nylon sheet thickness normally in stock: .125″, .187″, .250″, .375″, .500″, .625″, .750″, .875″, 1.0″, 1.250″, 1.500″, 1.750″, 2.0″, 2.250″, 2.500″, 2.750″, 3.0″, 3.50″, 3.750″, 4.0″ and thicker

Film:

.005″ – .062″ in 12″ wide in Natural (Tan – Beige), Black and MD (minimums may apply)
Nylon Rod and Rods:

.125″ – 10″ diameter in Natural (Tan – Beige), Black and MD Filled – up to 120″ lengths

Nylon rod diameters normally in stock:
.125″, .187″, .250″, .312″, .375″, .437″, .500″, .562″, .625″, .750″, .875″, 1.0″, 1.125″, 1.250″, 1.375″, 1.500″, 1.625″, 1.750″, 2.0″, 2.250″, 2.500″, 2.750″, 3.0″, 3.250″, 3.50″, 3.750″, 4.0″, 4.50″, 5.0″ and much larger depending on length

Cast Nylon Type 6 Rod and Rods:

2.0″ – 26″ diameter in Natural (Tan – Beige), Blue, Oil Filled, MD Filled, FDA grade, Black and other specialty formulations. Various lengths and sizes including 120″ lengths in some sizes.

Cast Nylon Type 6 Blocks and Near Net Shapes:

This is hard to quantify, as we can produce from small to massive blocks and ‘near net shapes’ in a limitless range of sizes. Simply let us know the size and shape you are looking for, and we will do our best to produce a Cast Nylon Part that size. Cast Nylon is available in Natural (Tan – Beige), Blue, Oil Filled, MD Filled, FDA grade, Black and other specialty formulations.

Large Cast Blocks and Discs:

Use your imagination! Discs – 2.0″ x 72″ diameter in Natural (Tan – Beige), Blue, Oil Filled, MD Filled, FDA grade, Black and other specialty formulations. Many shapes are available in thicknesses up to 14″. Please give us a call, we have supplied huge blocks and large chunks.
Cast Tube (Tubular Bar):

You read that right – tube. 2.0″ – 36″ OD with a huge variety of wall thicknesses. The lengths depend on the wall thickness, but generally up to 48″ long. These Cast Nylon Tubes are available in Natural (Tan – Beige), Blue, Oil Filled, MD Filled, FDA grade, Black and other specialty formulations.

Special Formulations:

Nylon Massive Blocks, Huge Sheave, Near Net Shapes – Nylon – Polyamide Glass Reinforced in various percentages of glass, Oil Filled, FDA approved Oil Filled, MD Filled, Blue, Type 6, Type 6/12. Custom sizes, formulations and colors. Massive and Near-Net Shapes on special request. Rod and Rods are available up to 120″ long in huge diameters. Sheet sizes up to 48″ X 96″ in most varieties. Give us a try, we can probably do what you need.
These Properties are for evaluation purposes only. This information is not to be construed as a warranty, guarantee or assurance that you may achieve the same results. Materials made from different resin types, manufacturing techniques and manufacturers will react differently. The information should be used to compare against other materials only, and each user should make his own tests to determine suitability. No warranty as to this materials suitability are either expressed or implied.

Typical Resin Properties for Nylon 6/6 and Nylon Type 6

These properties are for evaluation purposes only. This information is not to be construed as a warranty, guarantee or assurance that you may achieve the same results. Materials made from different resin types, manufacturing techniques and manufacturers will react differently. The information should be used to compare against other materials only, and each user should make his own tests to determine suitability. No warranty as to this materials suitability are either expressed nor implied.

Blue Metal Detectable Plastic Helps Reduce Food Recalls

Blue Metal Detectable Plastic Helps Reduce Food Recalls

Food Recalls On The Rise?

During the last year, the number and size of food recalls has been staggering. With several major food processors, specifically in the poultry market, recalling massive amounts of product due to contamination, perhaps a change in material is in order, simply changing to a Metal or X-ray detectable plastic material may end recalls for contamination. The cost to change to a metal detectable plastic or x-ray detectable plastic is extremely small in comparison to the cost of these recalls.

What is a detectable Plastic

There are numerous quality high performance plastic materials that are available in Blue, X-ray and Metal detectable versions. These materials are designed with food safety in mind. These materials can assist the food industry and the food processing supply chain in keeping our foods safe. Identifying contaminates in the processing of foods can be made significantly easier with these detectable materials. Food safety should be the priority within the food processing industry. By changing to metal detectable plastic and X-ray detectable plastics, this can become a reality.

Metal Detectable Plastic and X-Ray Detectable Plastics

Here is a recent Press Release detailing the recalls and a rather straight forward and easy solution using detectable plastic.

(Newswire.net — October 10, 2016) Anaheim, CA – Can ‘Blue’ fix food recalls?The year 2016 has seen some staggering food recalls by large food processors. Massive recalls of chicken specifically seem to have happened multiple times. The part that is the most amazing is that the root cause of many of these kinds of recalls is preventable. The specific recalls listed below are all for possible plastic contamination in the food product.

These large food processors should be aware of some simple steps that can totally eliminate these kinds of contaminates from getting into their food products.Metal Detectable Plastic and X-Ray Detectable Plastics. Blue Acetal, Blue UHMW, Blue Nylon and Blue Hydex 4101 UD Blue Plastic Rod

Penny Wise, Pound Foolish

Keeping Food Processing Safe

While using FDA approved plastic materials for conveyor parts and moving components is a standard practice in most food processing plants, many processors use the cheapest available approved materials. This means that many producers are using a natural (white) HDPE, Acetal or other white approved plastic material. While it is safe to use these plastics, occasionally one of these parts gets jammed, breaks or wears to the point where parts can crack and pieces can get into the food processing line.

It Is Plain To See

The first easy step would be to use the same quality FDA approved material, but to buy the Blue metal detectable plastic version of the same approved material. This minor color change in the material makes any contaminates very easy to see with the naked eye. Since there are no food products in these bright blue colors, as long as there are employees looking at the food line, these broken pieces are easy to detect.

I Can See You

Speaking of detect, the big step up for detection of contaminates is to use a FDA approved plastic that is detectable by the X-ray or metal detection equipment already installed in these food processing lines. While these ‘metal detectable plastics’ cost more, they certainly cost less than one recent 4.5 million pound poultry recall.

The goal here is not to point the finger or call any company a ‘bad processor’, but rather to encourage these great food processors to use the ‘best practice’ types of materials to eliminate these monster food recalls.

In September 2016, Tyson Foods recalled 130,000 pounds of chicken nuggets for foreign materials in the product.

https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/27/health/tyson-chicken-nugget-plastic-recall/

“According to Tyson Foods, the plastic material ranged in size from 21mm in length and 6.5mm in diameter and may have come from a round, hard plastic rod used to connect a plastic transfer belt. The firm said the products pass through a metal detector, but the plastic is not detectable to this technology,” the USDA recall announcement said.

Have You Considered Detectable Blue?

Blue Metal Detectable Plastic Materials

Blue Metal Detectable Plastics From Ensinger

Perhaps they could consider using a metal detectable plastic that is detectable by a standard metal detector. Industrial Plastic Supply has supplied this FDA approved Metal Detectable UHMW rod since early 2010. Currently, there are several FDA approved materials that are available in Blue; UHMW, Acetal, Nylon, Polyester and now PEEK. Some of these materials are also available in a ‘triple detection’ version, where it is detectable because of the vivid Blue color, and it is also Metal detectable and X-Ray detectable. One of these new versions is the Ultra-Detectable Polyester rod made by Ensinger® Plastics called Hydex® 4101 UD Blue (FDA Grade Polyester).

In April and May of 2016, Pilgrim’s Pride had a recall totaling 5,550,904 pounds (yes 5.5 million pounds) of poultry do to possible foreign matter contamination.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-027-2016-release-exp3

What is the cost of these huge food recalls?

The cost is staggering. To recall this quantity of food takes a small army of people to identify the possibly contaminated batches of food. Then notification is spread to all the possible distribution and wholesalers. The USDA is normally notified as one more step to notify the public.

Simple method to protect the safety of our food chain using detectable plastic materials

What is the cost to change to a more metal detectable plastic?

This depends on the type of plastic, and the detection method.

Let’s assume that the currently used material is an FDA approved grade of 1″ diameter Natural Acetal rod (a popular performance plastic used in food processing). And let’s assume this material would sell for approximately $2.00 – $2.50 per linear foot.

Changing to a Bright Blue FDA approved grade of Acetal Rod would cost about $3.50 – $4.00 per foot.

Upgrading to a Metal and X-ray detectable plastic that is FDA grade and Blue Acetal plastic rod would cost in the range of $8.25 – $9.00 per foot.

A recall of 100,000 pounds of poultry is, of course, significantly more expensive than upgrading the plastic materials in the food processing plant. Consider the upgrade an inexpensive insurance policy against these kinds of monster recalls, with a simple change to metal detectable plastic materials.

Metal Detectable Plastic and X-Ray Detectable Plastics Actually Saves Money

Reference Articles:

Tyson Recalls

Oct 15, 2016 – 1,148 pounds:

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-096-2016-release

Sept 27, 2016 – 130,000 pounds:

https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/27/health/tyson-chicken-nugget-plastic-recall/

Pilgrim’s Pride

May 13, 2016 – 5,550,904 pounds: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-027-2016-release-exp3

Michigan Turkey Producers

Oct 15, 2016 – 54,011 pounds:

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-097-2016-release

ThomasNet

625 Food Recalls in 2018 – Over 125 million pounds discarded:

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/how-can-food-industry-improve-food-processing-purity/

Press Release Source: Massive Food Recalls For Contamination Making You Blue

Contact us for more information on these Metal Detectable Plastic and X-Ray detectable plastic products. Blue Sheet and Rod are available in Acetal, Delrin®, Nylon, PBT – Polyester, and more. The special ‘triple detectable’ grades are currently produced in Acetal (Tecaform® UD Blue) and PBT – Polyester (Hydex® 4101 UD Blue). More materials are in final stages of development. Contact us for your special requirements.