NYCOA POLYMER TOPICS: 6i/6t Applications
Various forms of plastic moulding
We’ve been looking at 6i/6t. Previously we took a broad overview of the material and we’ve already done articles on its use as a film. This week in our continuing examination of nylon 6i/6t, we’re going to zoom out a bit to take a broader look at how its properties lend to use in a wide range of applications. Whether that’s as a barrier layer, in injection molding, or as a barrier tube the properties we’ve discussed of 6i/6t make it an ideal candidate for a myriad of applications.
When it comes to injection molding one of the most desirable properties is how amorphous the plastic is. Whether it’s to fill voids, to avoid clogs, or just to reduce the time spent producing each part being in control of your material’s flow is vital to getting high quality consistent parts, and 6i/6t boasts the ability to be highly customized to each job to ensure the it’s exactly as amorphous as you need it to be while still hitting your other material requirements.
We’ve previously discussed 6i/6t’s performance at high temperatures. But when it comes to a barrier tube or a barrier layer for mono-extruded or co-extruded rigid packaging, or even the cast extrusion of nylon 6i/6t as a protective layer on a product, the high heat resistance of this resin, while being clear and amorphous, can provide a huge advantage in the right application.
As we discussed with 6i/6t’s utility as a film plastic, clear packaging allows you to show off your product. But that packaging still needs to hold up to high temperature manufacturing processes and perform well over time. 6i/6t has high temperature resistance and clarity. However, it is important to optimize the chemistry of 6i and 6t components of a resin to make sure this material does not become brittle [insert link for first post]
Nylon 6i/6t provides this clarity and thermal profile while still performing exceptionally well in oxygen barrier, co2 barrier, and moisture barrier testing. This combination of factors allows a finished plastic product to stay strong in the stresses of the real world, not absorb as much moisture which affect the product negatively, and also allow the transfer of some gasses out of a package, while keeping other gasses out of the packaged product, keeping it fresh and stable. For this reason it’s often used as a barrier layer in food or cosmetic packaging to protect parts made from a cheaper material.
But not only does nylon 6i/6t protect packaging from your product (by optimal barrier performance), it can protect your product from the environment. It boasts excellent performance as high humidity barrier, and it has low transmission of uv radiation - meaning that the polymer is keeping packaged products safe from deterioration. This is vital not just in food packaging, but also anything that could be discolored or degraded by exposure to light.
The flexibility of 6i/6t is in its customizability. It’s not just useful as a cast protective layer or a clear transparent protective surface; It’s a strong plastic that can be used in rigid parts manufacture too. The same strength, abrasion resistance, and resiliency that makes it a desirable film also means when injection molded into rigid parts it has a very desirable weight to toughness ratio.
And it is partially miscible with other polymers meaning it can be used in customized blends with other materials to save money or to hit very specific targets in performance.
6i/6t is used in a wide range of applications, whether it’s extrusion, injection molding, barrier films, or many other applications. Its host of highly desirable material properties and its customizability means that some formulation of 6i/6t can fill just about any need you might have.
About NYCOA
NYCOA (the Nylon Corporation of America) commercially manufactures many grades of specialty engineered nylon, including nylon 6, nylon copolymers, filled and super-tough grades, nylon 6,10 and 6,12, and unique long-chain polyamide family NXTamid , and our unique flexible PEBA Nylon Ny-Flex. All NYCOA products are made in the USA, manufactured in our ISO plant located in Manchester, NH. NYCOA is dedicated to plastics engineering, plastics innovation, and a consistent quality earned through operational excellence. NYCOA is dedicated to its customers, and produces specialty engineered polymers for industries and partners around the world, and has plastics compounding capabilities to produce a variety of reinforced grades.
Nylon manufactures for many industries and applications, including fasteners, hook and loop, extruded parts, injection molding, athletic accessories, military and transportation applications, foamed components, monofilament, powders, and wire and cable jacketing.
Interested in a sample of our specialty nylon grades, or more information about their chemical resistance properties? CONTACT US
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Manchester, NH 03103-7230
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