What are nylon fasteners?
Screws, nuts, rivets, washers, threaded rods – these are all examples of fasteners available in nylon materials. Nylon plastic fasteners possess desirable qualities for a range of applications. Is a nylon fastener right for your job? This guide will help you decide. We’ll cover:
What are nylon fasteners used for?
The short answer is, wherever metal fasteners lack the qualities you want. If you need a lightweight solution, then a nylon fastener is ideal. For instance, nylon is half the weight of aluminium, but offers higher wear resistance.
Nylon screws, nylon nuts, nylon washers – nylon fixings in general – have excellent resistance to corrosion. Nylon also stands up well to most chemicals. The material is a good electrical insulator, which is why nylon screws and rivets are used so often in electrical and electronic equipment. The material’s inert qualities also make nylon fasteners ideal for the medical and food industries. Automotive nylon fasteners are often used for their strength and durability for fixing licence plates, and on wheel arches and body trims.
You can get both standard and metric nylon fasteners. Nylon can be formulated to enhance the characteristics you need. For example, nylon is not normally intended for marine applications, as it absorbs water. But nylon rope fasteners are suitable for mooring boats, thanks to stabilisers that boost resistance to environmental effects.
Nylon patch fasteners are actually metal screws. Nylon powder is melted into an area on one side of the threads. Once it bonds to the threads, it looks like a small patch. The purpose is to add friction to prevent loosening from vibration.
You can learn more about fasteners in our Ultimate guide to fasteners.
How to use nylon fasteners
Get to know the different types of nylons, which will help the fastener work as it’s intended to. For instance, heat-resistant nylon – nylon 4/6 – is specially formulated to withstand very high temperatures. If you need your fastener to withstand operating temperatures of 130˚C, do not use a nylon 6 fastener that might be intended for 85˚C. Nylon 4/6 is what you need. Always check the specifications of any nylon fastener you’re considering.
By far, the two most common types are nylon 6 and nylon 6/6. Most nylon fasteners are made from either of these two materials. You can learn more in our guide, The differences between nylon 6 and nylon 6/6.
Types of nylon fasteners
Below are examples of nylon fasteners of different varieties.
Hex head cap screws
Ideal lightweight alternative to metal fasteners, nylon hex head cap screws are designed to mate with machine threads and help secure a component to an assembly. Available with a slotted drive.
Hose and tubing cinch strap
Nylon strap fasteners with a hook-and-loop design closure hold hoses securely while allowing the hoses to expand or contract during start-up or shutdown of the equipment. Allows you to add, remove or adjust the hose quickly and cuts normal hose assembly installation time in half. Excellent UV and weather resistance.
Quarter-turn panel fastener
Nylon panel fasteners both lock and release for easy access to panels with a simple quarter turn. Supplied in a pre-assembled format for added convenience. Ideal for when it is impossible to fit a receptacle in the framework.
Push-in rivets – snap
Example of nylon push-in fasteners or more specifically, nylon snap rivet fasteners. Available in different nylon grades, including heat-resistant nylon 4/6, these snap rivets offer good thermal and electrical insulation properties. The specially designed legs expand and firmly lock the components permanently in place.
You can learn more in our guide What is a push-in rivet?
Marker cable ties
Technically, these aren’t fasteners, but cable ties. However, they do serve the function of securing cable bundles and for that reason, we’ll count them as nylon tag fasteners to show you how nylon uses vary. The nylon tag, or marker, can be written on to identify the cables being secured. These are particularly handy in communal working environments.
Canoe clips
Low-cost nylon clip fasteners are ideal for front-panel mounting. Easily snaps into round holes and covers a smaller surface area. Ideal for long-term signs and displays. With good electric insulation, and vibration, abrasion and corrosion resistance, these can be used on electronic, automotive or machine applications.
Ratchet rivets
Nylon ratchet fasteners are comprised of two identical parts that grip together to form a quick and convenient fastening. Simply snap the two components together by hand to form a single fastening assembly.
To learn more, check out What is a ratchet rivet?
Download free CADs and try before you buy
Free CADs are available for most solutions, which you can download. You can also request free samples to ensure the solutions you’ve chosen are exactly what you need.
You might also find it helpful to read our guide How to choose fasteners for high-temperature applications.
If you’re not quite sure which nylon fastener will work best for your application, our experts are always happy to advise you.
Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast despatch. Request your free samples or download free CADs now.
Questions?
Email us at sales@essentracomponents.co.uk or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 0345 528 0474.