Alexei Volkov
Nylon is a synthetic plastic material composed of polyamide. It is a versatile material with different molecular structures based on its application. Due to its polymers, gluing nylon can be challenging and rarely successful. Its surface is often too slick for adhesives to stick to it, and it is chemically inert and hygroscopic, absorbing water from the air. To increase chemical reactivity and strengthen the bond, extensive surface preparation is often required. While some sources suggest using epoxy, others have found that it does not work well for nylon. Some alternatives to epoxy include industrial-strength poly glues, cyanoacrylate-based super glues, and high-performance methacrylate adhesives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Synthetic plastic composed of polyamide |
| Properties | Strong, stiff, excellent bearing, wear-resistant, low friction, abrasion-resistant, lightweight, quiet |
| Uses | Clothing, manufacturing, gears, bushings, bearings, wear pads, packaging machinery parts, wood glue, glue for plastic |
| Brands | Tech-Bond, Sure Hold, Loctite, Plastiweld, DuPont, Curbell |
| Adhesive | Industrial-strength poly glue, acrylic adhesive, methacrylate adhesive, hot melt glue |
| Adhesive Properties | Medium set speed, strong, flexible, shock-resistant, impact-resistant, extreme weather-resistant, thermal cycling-resistant |
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What You'll Learn
Use an industrial-strength poly glue
Nylon is a synthetic plastic material composed of polyamide. It is a versatile material with different molecular structures based on its application. It is used in everything from clothing to manufacturing. Due to its polymers, gluing nylon has always been tough and rarely successful. Its surface is too slick for anything to stick to it.
However, there are some industrial-strength poly glues available that can glue nylon. Tech-Bond's Poly Prep and Sure Hold's Plastic Surgery are two examples of such glues. If you are gluing the nylon to another non-nylon or nylon item, have the item on hand and place them together immediately as the glue begins to set when exposed to air. If you are gluing the nylon to itself, hold the two pieces together before applying the glue. Hold the glued nylon tightly. Industrial-strength poly glues set in as little as 15 to 20 seconds but need 24 hours to fully make the bond. Hold the nylon and any other item you are gluing together for 3 to 4 minutes. Place the nylon in an area where it will be undisturbed for 24 hours, and in a position where gravity reinforces the bond instead of weakening it.
Some other glues that can be used to glue nylon are Loctite Plastics Bonding System, a two-part cyanoacrylate adhesive, and Loctite Plastic Bonder, an acrylic adhesive. The latter is ideal for high-temperature and high-humidity applications and has good adhesion to dissimilar items like bonding nylon to aluminum or stainless steel. It has a medium set speed and provides a strong, flexible bond. It does not require extensive surface preparation.
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Prepare the surface
Nylon is a synthetic plastic material composed of polyamide. It is a versatile material with different molecular structures based on its application. It is used in a wide range of applications, from clothing to engineering parts. Due to its unique properties, bonding or gluing nylon can be challenging. Its surface is often too slick for adhesives to stick effectively.
To prepare the surface of nylon for bonding, it is essential to understand the challenges posed by its material properties. Nylon polymers tend to be chemically inert and hygroscopic, meaning they absorb water from the air. This absorbed water can impact the adhesion process by plasticizing the nylon and accelerating the migration of additives to the surface. Therefore, the first step in surface preparation is ensuring the nylon surface is clean and free of contaminants, including moisture. Laquer thinner can be used as a cleaner before applying an adhesive.
For optimum adhesion, extensive surface preparation is often required. Manufacturers typically use plasma or flame treatment techniques to enhance the adhesion properties of nylon. These treatments modify the surface of the nylon, making it more receptive to bonding. It is important to note that not all adhesives are suitable for bonding nylon, and choosing the right product is crucial. Some adhesives, such as super glue, epoxy, and acrylic cement, have been found to be ineffective in bonding nylon.
In addition to selecting the right adhesive, there are specific techniques to improve the bonding process. When bonding nylon to another material, it is recommended to apply the adhesive to the non-nylon surface first and then bring the pieces together. This is because nylon has a faster setting time when exposed to air. However, when bonding nylon to itself, it is advisable to hold the pieces together before applying the adhesive.
Nylon parts that will be used in wet environments should be designed with tolerances that consider dimensional changes due to moisture absorption. Nylon has relatively high moisture absorption compared to other thermoplastics, which can impact its performance and dimensional stability. Therefore, ensuring the surface is adequately prepared and treated for the specific environmental conditions is essential.
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Use tape and epoxy for temporary fixes
Nylon is a synthetic plastic material composed of polyamide. Its versatility means it has different molecular structures based on its application, and it can be used in everything from clothing to manufacturing.
Nylon polymers tend to be difficult to bond with adhesives because they are chemically inert and hygroscopic (they absorb water from the air). This absorbed water can affect adhesion by plasticizing the nylon and accelerating the migration of additives to the film's surface.
Gluing nylon can be challenging due to its polymers, and it rarely succeeds in a higher-stress environment. Its surface is often too slick for adhesives to stick. However, there are temporary fixes you can try.
One option is to use tape and epoxy. You can also reinforce the bond by building up an outer coating with tape and epoxy. Before applying epoxy, ensure the surface is clean. Laquer thinner is a good cleaner to use before epoxy. The slow-setting variety of epoxy works best. You can also use a worm gear-type hose clamp to hold the nylon together tightly until the glue sets.
Another option is to use an industrial-strength poly glue like Tech-Bond's Poly Prep or Sure Hold's Plastic Surgery. Apply the glue to the nylon item you wish to glue. If gluing nylon to another material, have the item on hand and place them together immediately, as the glue will start to set when exposed to air. Hold the glued nylon tightly for 3 to 4 minutes. Then, place the nylon in an undisturbed area for 24 hours, ensuring that gravity reinforces the bond.
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Try welding
Plastic welding is a process used to join two compatible thermoplastics. It involves preparing the two plastic parts, pressing them together, and heating them using various heating techniques.
To weld plastic, you must first set up a workspace with proper ventilation as most heating techniques emit dangerous fumes. Operators should wear protective gear to shield themselves from the fumes. Next, clean the plastics with soap and warm water, and dry them with a clean, lint-free cloth. You can also use liquid solvents such as Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) or 80-grit sandpaper to remove stains.
Once the plastic is clean, you can begin the welding process. Clamp and tape the two plastic pieces together to form and hold the desired joint. Place the plastic pieces on a workbench and pin them using C-clamps. The style of joining the plastic depends on the welding technique chosen. For instance, ultrasonic welding is suitable for lap joints and commonly used for PVC because it does not involve direct heating, which can produce dangerous fumes.
After the weld is complete, allow the plastic to cool for about 5 minutes or until it reaches room temperature. You can then sand the welded joint or use other surface finishing processes to make it smooth.
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Rehydrate nylon by simmering in water
Nylon is a synthetic plastic material composed of polyamide. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used thermoplastics. However, there is a lot of confusion about properly drying nylon and how it is affected by moisture.
Nylon has an unusual affinity for water. It is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs moisture from the air surrounding the material or directly from water if it is submerged. The higher the humidity, the faster it will absorb moisture. Immersing nylon in water will cause it to absorb moisture extremely fast. However, it only absorbs moisture until it is saturated, similar to how a sponge works.
The regular method to rehydrate nylon is to simmer it in water for 10 minutes. It will become as flexible as new once the water soaks back into it. If the nylon part has not cracked but is simply worn out, you can install sleeve bearings after simmering it in water to bring it back to life.
Moisture conditioning is a process that involves bringing nylon parts to their equilibrium moisture content. This can be done by pouring a prescribed amount of water into moulded parts contained in a moisture-proof package, placing saturated paper towels into the package with the nylon parts, or even boiling the parts.
It is important to note that moisture absorbed onto the surface of nylon can generally be removed by drying for 3-4 hours. However, if the water is absorbed deeply into the polymer chains, more time is needed, sometimes exceeding 24 hours, to allow for the hydrogen bonds to break and the water molecules to diffuse to the surface.
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Frequently asked questions
Nylon polymers tend to be difficult to bond with adhesives because they are chemically inert and hygroscopic (they absorb water from the air). To increase chemical reactivity and strengthen the nylon bond, extensive surface preparation is often needed. Manufacturers often use plasma or flame treatment for optimum adhesion.
There are several glues on the market designed for bonding plastics and poly-plastic materials, like nylon. Some of these glues are made of cyanoacrylates, which dry in seconds when exposed to air. However, these are too weak to hold nylon for very long. Industrial-strength poly glues like Tech-Bond's Poly Prep or Sure Hold's Plastic Surgery are also an option. If you want to bond nylon to another material, such as aluminium or stainless steel, an acrylic adhesive is ideal.
If you are gluing nylon to another non-nylon or nylon item, have the item on hand and place them together immediately as the glue begins to set when exposed to air. If you are gluing the nylon to itself, hold the two pieces together before applying the glue. Hold the glued nylon tightly for 3 to 4 minutes. Place the nylon in an area where it will be undisturbed for 24 hours, and in a position where gravity reinforces the bond.
Nylon is a thermoplastic, so you could weld it. If you are repairing a gas tank, for example, you could slice a little piece of plastic off the underside of the engine's cover to use as filler. Another option is to heat the nylon up until it is almost but not quite melted, and then glue it with hot melt glue.
