What are Nylon Screws?

Nylon screws, crafted from high-grade polyamide, are essential components in the precision engineering landscape. These fasteners are renowned for their durability, lightweight nature and non-corrosive properties, making them ideal for environments where metal screws might falter.

The inherent flexibility of nylon allows these screws to withstand vibrations and dynamic loads, ensuring a secure hold in various applications. Whether you're dealing with electronic assemblies or lightweight assemblies, nylon screws offer a reliable and efficient fastening solution.

There are several variations of nylon available, such as Nylon 6, Nylon 66, Nylon 6/6-6, Nylon 6/9, Nylon 6/10, Nylon 6/12, Nylon 11, and Nylon 12. Each type offers distinct advantages depending on the application, whether it’s increased strength, flexibility or resistance to wear and chemicals.

Additionally, nylons can be enhanced by blending with other engineering plastics to elevate specific performance characteristics. RENY, for instance, is a form of reinforced nylon infused with glass fibres, significantly boosting its strength and rigidity for demanding applications.

How Nylon Polyamide Screws Work

Nylon polyamide screws excel in scenarios where traditional metal screws may cause unwanted interference, such as in electrical installations or environments sensitive to magnetic fields. Due to their non-conductive properties, they are frequently used in assembling PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) and other electronic devices, preventing electrical shorts and corrosion.

In the automotive industry, black nylon screws are often employed for their resistance to fuel, oils and chemicals, ensuring longevity and reliability in engine compartments and other harsh environments.

Additionally, their vibration-dampening characteristics make them indispensable in noise reduction and stability scenarios, such as securing parts in machinery or robotics.

When installed, nylon screws create a tight seal without the risk of stripping or thread galling, which can occur with metal fasteners. This feature is particularly advantageous in repeated assembly and disassembly applications, where maintaining the integrity of the threaded component is crucial.

What Material Nylon Screws Are Made From

These screws are primarily made from nylon (polyamide), a material celebrated for its robust mechanical properties and chemical resistance. Nylon is inherently lightweight yet strong, making it an excellent choice for components where reducing weight without compromising strength is essential.

The use of nylon provides several benefits:

• Chemical Resistance: Ideal for applications exposed to harsh chemicals, oils, and solvents.
• Corrosion Resistance: Perfect for outdoor or moisture-prone environments, where metal screws might corrode over time.
• Non-Conductivity: Essential in electrical and electronic applications, where insulating properties are critical.
• Flexibility: The slight elasticity of nylon allows it to absorb vibrations, making it perfect for applications involving movement or dynamic forces.

What Size and Type Nylon Screws Are Available

At Accu, our nylon screws are available in a broad range of sizes and configurations to meet diverse application needs.

Thread sizes range from the smallest M1.2 (1.2mm), ideal for delicate electronics, up to M16 (16mm) for more demanding mechanical applications. Additionally, screw lengths vary from 1.5mm to 80mm long, providing the flexibility to suit any project, from micro-electronics to structural components.

Our nylon screws come in several head types from nylon cap screws, offering a large load-bearing surface and robust grip to nylon grub screws, perfect for applications requiring a set screw or internal fastening, such as securing gears or pulleys. We also include pan head and nylon countersunk screws for even more choice in head type.

Our range of nylon screws offers a variety of drive types, including hex socket, Phillips, slotted, thumb, and Torx drives, ensuring compatibility with your assembly tools and ease of installation.

For those seeking a more specific aesthetic or functional attribute, black nylon screws offer the same durability with a sleek, low-visibility finish, making them ideal for consumer electronics or automotive interiors.

If your project demands alternative materials or finishes, consider exploring our range of titanium screws and aluminium screws, which offer different mechanical properties and aesthetics while still maintaining the lightweightedness, precision and reliability you've come to expect from Accu.

FAQs

Q: Are nylon screws strong?

A: Yes, nylon screws are exceptionally strong given their lightweight nature. They offer excellent tensile strength and are resistant to wear, making them suitable for various applications where durability is key. While they may not match the sheer strength of metal screws, they excel in environments where corrosion resistance, electrical insulation and vibration damping are crucial.

Q: What are nylon screws used for?

A: Nylon screws are used in a wide range of applications, particularly where non-conductive, non-corrosive and lightweight fasteners are needed. Common uses include electronics assembly, automotive parts, medical devices and any situation where metal screws might cause interference or corrosion.

Q: Can nylon screws be used outdoors?

A: Yes, nylon screws are suitable for outdoor use. They are highly resistant to moisture, UV rays and various environmental factors, making them an excellent choice for outdoor applications. Unlike metal screws, nylon screws do not rust, which helps maintain their integrity and appearance over time, even in harsh weather conditions.

Q: Are nylon screws reusable?

A: Nylon screws can be reused providing they're undamaged, but their reusability depends on the application and the conditions they've been exposed to. In environments where the screws are subject to significant stress, wear or chemical exposure, their performance may diminish with repeated use. However, in many applications, nylon screws can be safely removed and reinstalled multiple times without compromising their effectiveness.

Bespoke Nylon Screws Manufacture.

High precision, bespoke manufacture of Nylon Screws to customer specification. State of the art facilities specialising in both small batch prototyping and large scale manufacture.