Nylon is the material of choice when it comes to coating steel and aluminum instruments in a range of industries that include medical, automotive, office, and appliances. The reason nylon is the go-to material is because it has unique thermal, chemical, mechanical, and physical properties. Nylon coating is cost-effective, efficient and gives a clean finish.
Distinctions as to why nylon is a superior coating material include:
- Protection Against UV Rays
A nylon coating protects the coated metal from harmful UV rays as well as potential corrosion from the elements. The coating keeps moisture out, sealing whatever has been coated so that it won’t suffer any adverse effects from the rain, wind, snow and sun. This ensures that the product becomes more durable and will be able to last for longer.
- Nylon Protects Against Abrasion
Products that have undergone nylon coating will show higher resistance to abrasion, than products that haven’t been coated. This means products will barely suffer bruising when they fall, get scratched, or brush against rough surfaces. Nylon is at least 13 times stronger than PVC and so will grant products coated in it 13 times the resistance when compared to PVC coated products.
- Nylon Coating Provides Sterility to Medical Instruments
When it comes to medical instruments such as surgical tools, sterility is of utmost importance. Nylon coating allows medical instruments to be sterilized in a quick and efficient manner.
- Nylon Coating Reduces Noise Pollution
Metals are known to rattle, clash, jingle, and make other unwelcome noises. This is a problem with a solution. Simply coating the metal with nylon will get rid of the problem very easily. The process itself is inexpensive and doesn’t take a lot of time.
How the Nylon is Applied
Nylon is either applied to the metal via a fluid bed or electrostatically. Both methods offer effective ways to functionally protect and coat metals such as aluminum and steel.
Applying nylon electrostatically involves applying a dry powder that is negatively charged to a metal surface that is positively charged. It is later post cured.
Application using the fluid bed method involves dipping the metal that has been pre-heated in a bed of dry powder that is fluidized with compressed air. Generally, a post-cure process is not required when fluidized bed dipping is used.
Secoa Technology is authorized by Arkema to be an applicator of their Rilsan® nylon powder.