Zytel

Zytel is a trademark owned by DuPont and used for a number of different high strength, abrasion and impact resistant thermoplastic polyamide formulations of the family more commonly known as nylon, often with varying degrees of fiberglass, from 13% to 60%, added in for additional stiffness^[1]. Some of the grades are homopolymer nylon66, other copolymers with nylon6 repeat units, and further grades involving rubber toughening are available. Many grades are based on Polyphthalamide (PPA), another common polyamide.

Properties

The properties of Zytel will vary with the specific formulation. Formulation Zytel HTN 35% Glass Reinforced Resin, consisting of 35% glass fiber by weight, has a tensile strength of around 30kpsi and a flexural modulus of 1500kpsi under room temperature conditions. Zytel also offers good chemical resistance to common chemicals such as motor oil, transmission fluid, and methanol, and shows little thermal expansion^[2]. Other additives or treatments may be used to increase toughness, wear resistance, and temperature tolerance^[3].

Uses

• Former American 200m and 400m sprinter Michael Johnson used shoes made of Zytel. These special gold-colored shoes were made by Nike and the soles had a mass of 30 grams
• Zytel is often used for folding knife handles; Benchmade, Leatherman Tool Group, Smith & Wesson, Gerber Legendary Blades, SARGE Knives, Cold Steel, CRKT and SOG Specialty Knives (among many others) use fiberglass-filled versions of Zytel in many of their lightweight pocket knives
• Zytel is also used for the projectile in some less lethal 12 gauge shotgun shells
• The intake manifold of the PT Cruiser GT is made of Zytel, as is an oil conduit in a Volkswagen transmission^[4]
• Rollerblade Aggressive inline skates use Zytel in the Grind Plates.^[5]
• Zytel is used in the receiver and frame in many arms manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Corporation.
• The original Laser roller skates had the plates and trucks made from Zytel.
• Zytel is used as the frame of many handguns, including the Smith & Wesson M&P^[6]

Types

Zytel HTN PPA Grades

•Zytel HTN51 – Retains the highest stiffness and strength properties compared with other PPAs despite high temperatures and chemical exposure.
•Zytel HTN52 – Molds in water-heated tools, with good retention of mechanical properties when exposed to heat, chemicals and moisture.
•Zytel HTN 54 – Builds on Zytel HTN52 with increased toughness and improved retention of mechanical properties with moisture.

Zytel HTN Structural Grades (Not PPA)

•Zytel HTN53 – Offers improved stiffness and toughness at ambient/moderate temperature; excellent surface appearance using water-heated tools.

Encapsulation Resins
Zytel HTNFE150010 BK083 30% Glass reinforced resin developed for encapsulation applications. PPA resin.

Flame Retardant Resins
Zytel HTNFR51G35L NC010 35% Glass reinforced, flame retardant, lubricated for oil-controlled tools
Zytel HTNFR52G15BL NC010 15% Glass reinforced, flame retardant, lubricated for water-controlled tools
Zytel HTNFR52G20LX NC010 20% Glass reinforced, flame retardant high performance polyamide resin developed for lead-free soldering conditions
Zytel HTNFR52G30BL NC010 30% Glass reinforced, flame retardant, lubricated for water-controlled tools
Zytel HTNFR52G30NH BK337 30% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin, with a halogen-free flame retardant. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFR52G30NH NC010 30% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin, with a halogen-free flame retardant. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFR52G35BL NC010 35% Glass reinforced, flame retardant, lubricated for water-controlled tools
Zytel HTNFR52G45BL BK337 45% Glass Reinforced, Flame Retardant High Performance Polyamide Resin

Glass/Mineral Reinforced Resins
Zytel HTN53GM40HSL BK083 40% Glass and mineral reinforced high performance polyamide developed for moderate temperature, low warp structural applications.
Zytel HTNFE150004 BK083 50% Glass/mineral reinforced high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFE150005 BK083 38% Mineral/glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.

Low Warp Resins
Zytel HTN53GM40HSL BK083 40% Glass and mineral reinforced high performance polyamide developed for moderate temperature, low warp structural applications.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR BK031 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR NC010 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFE150004 BK083 50% Glass/mineral reinforced high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFE150005 BK083 38% Mineral/glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.

Low Wear and Friction Resins
Zytel HTNWRF51G30 NC010 30% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide with improved wear and friction. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNWRF51K20 NC010 20% Kevlar Aramid Fiber Reinforced, High Performance Polyamide Resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNWRF51MP20 NC010 20% Teflon PTFE Micropowder, High Performance Polyamide Resin. PPA resin.

Toughened Resins
Zytel HTN54G15HSLR BK031 15% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G15HSLR NC010 15% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G35HSLR NC010 35% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR BK031 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR NC010 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFE18502 NC010 Unreinforced toughened

Unreinforced Resins
Zytel HTNFE18502 NC010 Unreinforced toughened
Zytel HTNFE8200 NC010 Unreinforced toughened high performance polyamide resin with high temperature resistance. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNWRF51K20 NC010 20% Kevlar Aramid Fiber Reinforced, High Performance Polyamide Resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNWRF51MP20 NC010 20% Teflon PTFE Micropowder, High Performance Polyamide Resin. PPA resin.

Glass Reinforced Resins
Zytel HTN51G15HSL NC010 15% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, lubricated high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN51G25HSL BK083 25% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN51G35HSL BK083 35% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, lubricated
Zytel HTN51G35HSL NC010 35% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, lubricated
Zytel HTN51G35HSLR BK420 35% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, lubricated offering improved hydrolysis resistance
Zytel HTN51G45HSL BK083 45% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN51G45HSL NC010 45% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN51G45HSLR BK420 45% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN52G35HSL BK083 35% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized high performance polyamide that can be molded in water heated molds. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN52G35HSL NC010 35% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized and lubricated material that can be molded in water heated molds
Zytel HTN52G45HSL BK031 45% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized high performance polyamide that can be molded in water heated molds. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN52G45HSL NC010 45% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized high performance polyamide that can be molded in water heated molds. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN53G35HSLRHF BK083 35% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, lubricated, modified for improved flow
Zytel HTN53G50HSLR BK083 50% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, lubricated, with improved impact, stiffness and hydrolysis resistance
Zytel HTN53G50HSLRHF BK083 50% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin with improved flow and excellent surface appearance using water-heated molds.
Zytel HTN53G50LRHF NC010 50% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin with improved flow and excellent surface appearance using water-heated molds.
Zytel HTN54G15HSLR BK031 15% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G15HSLR NC010 15% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G35HSLR BK031 35% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, lubricated, toughened, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G35HSLR NC010 35% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR BK031 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR NC010 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFE150010 BK083 30% Glass reinforced resin developed for encapsulation applications. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFR51G35L NC010 35% Glass reinforced, flame retardant, lubricated for oil-controlled tools
Zytel HTNFR52G15BL NC010 15% Glass reinforced, flame retardant, lubricated for water-controlled tools
Zytel HTNFR52G20LX NC010 20% Glass reinforced, flame retardant high performance polyamide resin developed for lead-free soldering conditions
Zytel HTNFR52G30BL NC010 30% Glass reinforced, flame retardant, lubricated for water-controlled tools
Zytel HTNFR52G30NH BK337 30% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin, with a halogen-free flame retardant. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFR52G30NH NC010 30% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin, with a halogen-free flame retardant. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFR52G35BL NC010 35% Glass reinforced, flame retardant, lubricated for water-controlled tools
Zytel HTNFR52G45BL BK337 45% Glass Reinforced, Flame Retardant High Performance Polyamide Resin
Zytel HTNWRF51G30 NC010 30% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide with improved wear and friction. PPA resin.

Superstructural Resins
Zytel HTN51G45HSL BK083 45% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN53G50HSLR BK083 50% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, lubricated, with improved impact, stiffness and hydrolysis resistance
Zytel HTN53G50HSLRHF BK083 50% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin with improved flow and excellent surface appearance using water-heated molds.
Zytel HTN53G50LRHF NC010 50% Glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin with improved flow and excellent surface appearance using water-heated molds.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR BK031 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR NC010 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFE150004 BK083 50% Glass/mineral reinforced high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTNFE150005 BK083 38% Mineral/glass reinforced high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.

Hydrolysis Resistant Resins
Zytel HTN51G45HSLR BK420 45% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G15HSLR BK031 15% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G15HSLR NC010 15% Glass reinforced, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G35HSLR NC010 35% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR BK031 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.
Zytel HTN54G50HSLR NC010 50% Glass reinforced, toughened, heat stabilized, hydrolysis resistant high performance polyamide resin. PPA resin.

References

External links

• DuPont plastics page