POM vs Nylon Materials: A Guide to Selection and CNC Machining Service Advantages

In industry and manufacturing, the choice of material is critical to product performance. POM and nylon PA are two common engineering plastics, each with unique characteristics and application scenarios. POM, commonly known as Saigang, is a crystalline thermoplastic. It has excellent mechanical strength, rigidity and wear resistance, and is widely used in automotive, electronics, machinery and other fields. Nylon is a synthetic polyamide that is one of the most widely used materials in a variety of engineering plastics. Its main characteristics are good wear resistance, chemical stability and excellent toughness, which are widely used in textile, automotive, electronic and industrial parts manufacturing.

Although POM and nylon share some similar properties, there are some differences between the two materials.

• Abrasion resistance

Nylon is generally more resistant to abrasion than POM, especially in dry applications. Unfilled POM is slightly less abrasion resistant than nylon. As a result, it has a lower wear rate in the steady state, especially under pressure.

• Frictional force

  
  

POM and nylon have a low coefficient of friction with other materials. There is not much difference between the friction of nylon and POM. As a result, they are all suitable for the manufacture of maintenance-free sliding and moving parts.

• Tensile strength

  
  

The tensile strength of a material determines the highest level of stress that can cause it to be permanently deformed. Nylon has a tensile strength of 12,000 psi, whereas POM has a tensile strength of 10,000 psi.

• Machinability

While nylon is generally easy to process, many designers and manufacturers consider POM to be the easiest plastic to process. POM is a very easy material to process and is a free-cutting thermoplastic with best-in-class dimensional stability. This, therefore, makes it easier to achieve precise and tight tolerances. It is suitable for mechanical and industrial parts, automotive components, electrical parts, and a wide range of medical devices.

• 3D printing capabilities

One of the main points of the nylon vs POM comparison is the 3D printing capability. You can 3D print nylon using any of the available technologies, including selective laser sintering. 3D printing most POM materials is quite cumbersome. In this case, most of the applications are high-performance components such as bearings and gears. As a result, you may have to deal with load and pressure issues.

• Temperature tolerance

The continuous operating temperature of the POM is usually between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. This is about 6.6 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit lower than standard nylon. As a result, nylon is more resistant to high temperatures than POM.

• Moisture resistance

Standard plastic nylon can push water upwards and absorb up to 8% of moisture. POM can only absorb 0.2% of water under similar conditions. However, it is important to note that filled nylon absorbs less moisture than unfilled nylon.