Nylon is a synthetic thermoplastic (linear polyamide) that was initially produced in 1935 by an American chemist working in DuPont research facility in Delaware. Nylon is classified as a thermoplastic material, based on the way the material reacts when exposed to heat. Nylon is considered to be one of the most commonly used fibers. A tough thermoplastic having outstanding wear properties, high abrasion and impact resistivity, Nylon is an easy to machine material with excellent tensile and compressive strength.
Nylon was initially used as for making toothbrush (consisting of Nylon bristles), when it started to get popular commercially in the early 1940s, but later the material was used in making was materials like parachutes, ropes, etc. Nylon material is also called polyamides, because of its characteristic’s amide groups in the backbone chain. Some interesting attributes about Nylon are:
- Electrical insulator
- High impact resistant
- High mechanical damping properties
- FDA approved
- High wear resistance under heavy loads
- Good fatigue resistance
