Nylon Tubing
Nylon tubing products are hollow channels made of solid nylon. Nylon is more widely associated with textile fibers than as a material for industrial tubing, but in its solid form, nylon is an excellent material for the fabrication of plastic tubes and other plastic products. Industrial and commercial operations make extensive use of nylon tubing because of its properties of non-reactivity, low moisture absorbency, and chemical resistance.
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Plastic Extrusion Process
Like all other plastic tubing products, Nylon tubing can be fabricated by one of many possible tubing fabrication methods. The most common method, however, is plastic extrusion. Plastic extrusion is the process by which a raw plastic material is melted, forced through a tool called a die, and processed into a usable product. The most important component of a plastic extruder is the die, which in the case of plastic extrusion, is a metal plate through which a hole has been cut, and a pin has been inserted. The shape of the hole and pin reflect the shape that the final tube product will take. At the beginning of the extrusion process, stock of raw plastic material is collected in a hopper suspended above a conveyance channel. The plastic is released into the channel where a large, turning screw forces the plastic toward the die. As the screw turns, the friction causes the plastic to become molten (with the assistance of electric heating elements along the length of the channel). Once melted, the plastic is forced through the die. When the plastic emerges on the other side of the die, it takes its new shape as tubing. It can then be cut to length and prepared for shipment or sent for additional processing.
Applications of Nylon Tubing
Nylon tubing can be engineered to be lightweight and flexible. Nylon tubing can be used in pneumatic tool applications, like in aircraft control mechanisms. It can also be used for automotive fuel lines, refrigerator water lines, and many other applications requiring crack-resistant and heat-resistant tubing. Because of the long list of beneficial properties boasted by nylon tubing, it can even serve as a substitute for metal tubing under some circumstances. Nylon tubing is used in a wide range of industrial applications. Some nylon tubing is made of particular types of nylon approved by the FDA, making it ideal for the food and beverage industries. Nylon tubing is also used in aerospace, medical technology, filtration, refrigerant, irrigation, laboratory, and many other applications.