Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyamide – better known as Nylon – are both plastics that are used in many capacities in the world of plastic manufacturing. In their powder form, they are an important part of the fluidized bed coating process. But which one is used for a specific job will depend on what is needed for the product being created.
These materials each have their own characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Here are some of the differences between the two materials:
What They Make
Nylon is a thermoplastic and PVC is a versatile material that accounts for nearly 20% of all manufactured plastic products in the world. Its versatility is derived from the fact that it can be formulated to be as rigid or flexible as you need. In their powder form, these products can be used to enhance wire racks, medical equipment, point of sale display stands, wire baskets, and other products.
Advantages
There are a lot of advantages to using Nylon to create a product. It’s remarkably strong, so much so that it can stand in for low-strength metals. It’s popular in the automotive industry, especially when making gears. It’s a stronger material that provides less friction when compared to PVC
There’s a lot to like about PVC as a material as well. It’s high density, it resists permanent deformation, it’s durable, it’s perfect for outdoor use, it has a low thermal conductivity, it’s a low maintenance product with a long lifespan, and it does not conduct electricity.
Disadvantages
Of course, no material is perfect. For example, Nylon absorbs a lot of moisture, which can be a problem when it comes to electrical and mechanical products. It’s also a sensitive material that lacks resistance to strong acids and bases and can be vulnerable to oxidizing agents.
Meanwhile, PVC’s density can actually be a disadvantage if that’s not what the product you’re making calls for. But it’s much more cost-effective than Nylon. It also has limited thermal capability and is not a good material for CNC machining.
Here at Piper Plastics, we use both PVC and Nylon in our fluidized bed coating process to enhance a variety of products. Visit our website or contact us to learn more about plastics and the processes we use.
