Glue Nylon? No, “bond” Nylon, with the Bonding Poly Process (Process)
Conventional wisdom is that you can’t glue nylon, including nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 6/6-6, nylon 6/9, nylon 6/10, nylon 6/12, nylon 11, nylon 12, Zytel® or any type of nylon. With the use of an adhesion promoter and a CA you can get a modest superficial glue joint with some nylons. By adding the power of chemistry and the laws of physics you can now “bond” any type of nylon. By using the Bonding Poly Process (patented), you can bond nylon to itself or to any other substrate quickly, easily and permanently.
Wherever and whenever we state that we can bond nylon or any other poly the universal reaction is skepticism. Skeptics are the reason why we have a money-back guarantee. If any of our kits do not perform to your expectations, we will refund your purchase price. Simply return the kit. So far, after selling thousands of kits, we have not had to make a refund.
The video below shows how to use the bonding poly process. The process is the same for nylon, as it is for silicone. Nylon like Silicone, is an elastomer. However, we will soon have our own nylon 3D printing Bonding Poly Process video as well.
Bonding Polymer Process (patented)
What’s the secret of the Bonding Poly Process? It’s how we combine
- a polymer-enhanced, Surface Insensitive Structural Cyanoacrylate
- our standard Activator/Accelerator, (the chemistry)
- the Poly Prep (chemistry again)
- and heat (the physics part of the process.)
As a result of the Bonding Poly Process, your result is hard to believe. Our first bond (repairing a polyurethane bumper cover), shocked us. We didn’t believe the result. Over the next several months, we repeated the Process on every polymer we could find. Success was 100% even when abused, the bonds didn’t fall apart. Finally, we asked ourselves, why did it take us sixteen years to figure out the process? When working with nylon, Delrin®, polypropylene or any other poly, it is extremely important to understand that polymers are slow at fully curing. In most cases however, the item will be strong enough to put into use immediately.
Bonds All Types of Nylon (Polyamide, PA)
There are many different types of nylon. Polyethylene, like nylon, has many different types such as HDPE or PETG. Unfortunately, the people in charge of naming the different types of Nylon, were a lot less creative than their polyethylene counterparts. The two most common types of Nylon are Nylon Type 6 and Nylon Type 6,6. These two Nylons are very similar and both have excellent absorption properties.
These absorption properties are not ideal with water, but they do make bonding that much easier. Our Poly Prep Adhesion Promoter is easily absorbed into Nylon Type 6 and Type 6,6. The further the Poly Prep and Molecular Bonding Agent can penetrate the material, the stronger the bond. This is also why the Process utilized heat. The bonds created between Nylon substrates, thanks to its excellent absorption, are very strong. This is true of all types of nylon; nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 6/6-6, nylon 6/9, nylon 6/10, nylon 6/12, nylon 11, nylon 12 and Zytel®. This long family of monotonously named materials, are referred to collectively as polyamides.
Nylon is available as a homopolymer or copolymer reinforced. A homopolymer is very much like it sounds and is comprised of one kind of monomer. Copolymers then obviously have more than one type of monomer. If there is only one number after Nylon or PA, you know you are dealing with a homopolymer. Copolymers have more than one and are separated by slashes. Again, whether you are dealing with a homopolymer or copolymer, the process is the same. The Process forms a covalent bond between the monomers and polymers of each substrate.
Thermoplastic Polyamide (TPA)
TPA is polyamide that has properties that make it very similar to rubber. It is an elastomer and a commonly used material in 3D printing. We have learned through bonding another elastomer, Silicone, that they key to bonding elastomers is extra firm pressure for at least fifteen seconds, when the two materials being bonded are brought together. This pressure essentially increases the surface area available to bond. More surface area equals more strength. It also makes it easier for the molecules to penetrate the elastomer material more deeply and create a deeper bond between the adhered substrates.
TPA is a very flexible material, that is easy to process. This flexibility is referred to as isotropic strength. This strength is measured by the ability of the material to conform, no matter what direction it is in. The flexibility of TPA, combined with its durability, allows it to maintain an elasticity of 300% or higher. The most important consideration therefore, when bonding thermoplastic polyamide, is flexibility. The first is this flexibility. Normally if you use a ‘super glue’ to glue TPA, the material becomes brittle and inflexible. In a material with 300% elasticity, this is simply unacceptable. The chemistry of the Bonding Poly Process allows the bonded material to take on the full characteristics of the material being bonded. Ergo, flexible materials stay flexible. This is why the only real choice when adhering TPA, is to bond TPA.
Bonding Nylon Blends
One further issue you can come across when working with Nylon, is a Nylon that was blended with other plastics to improve its less than desirable properties. For instance, Nylon is commonly blended with polyester. Polyester has a elasticity and soft durability lacking in Nylon. This is a similar issue often faced when trying to bond recycled plastics, they are often made of more than one type of plastic and that plastic can also be completely unknown. While the process is inherently the same for all plastics, there are certain methodologies we have picked up over the last 20 years, which make working with these different materials quicker and easier.
For instance, if the Nylon was blended with a soft Polyester or a stretchy Rayon, pliability will be paramount. For the most flexibility, we recommend using extra firm pressure in place of our activator. If activator is needed, spray it from the outside and let it permeate through, versus spraying the opposite surface. The activator sets the bond and while the material will still remain flexible if used, for maximum pliability we recommend firm pressure and proper curing time. If that is not an option, spray the activator from the outside once it is set. It will still be flexible, though slightly less malleable. For all other Nylon blends, simply follow the steps outlined in the Bonding Poly Process.
Bonding Polymers
To bond polymers, you need one of poly kits. Our Basic Poly Kit (shown below) includes;
- an SI Structural Cyanoacrylate,
- our standard Activator/Accelerator,
- the Poly Prep,
- Finally, a detailed step-by-step instruction sheet.
Our instruction sheet is easy to understand.
Save 15% With Tech-Bond Kits
Any of our Poly, Deluxe, or Professional Kits will bond Nylon to itself and any other substrate; except stainless steel and glass.
Nylon 3D Printing Bonding Solutions
The fact that bonded items can in most instances be put to use immediately, makes it ideal for 3D printing applications which mostly require the bonding of nylon. Most 3D printers utilize nylon. The Bonding Poly Process (Process) makes Nylon 3D Printing quick and easy. Nylon is the material of choice as it is strong, durable and abrasion resistant. Nylon also has good tensile and mechanical strength. What makes it less than ideal in reality, are the slip additives in the material. This makes it hard to glue. In addition, nylon is a Polymide (PA). Poly’s already have a naturally slick surface, on account of its low surface energy. Fortunately, our Poly Prep Adhesion Promoter and Bonding Poly Process, easily bridges the gap between nylon’s ideal properties and its less than desirable ones.
3D Printing is undoubtedly the future. They are now even constructing 3D printed homes. Soon there will be entire communities of 3D printed houses. This is a huge step forward which will allow lower income families, to be home owners for the first time ever. The issue of course, when building such huge 3D printed constructs, is the need to utilize different 3D printing materials and bond them together. Since the Bonding Poly Process works on the molecular level, regardless of the substrate, it will bond all 3D printed materials to Nylon and each other. Below is a brief list of the most common 3D printing materials.
Bonding Nylon to Other 3D Printed Materials
PLA– PLA is one of the other most common 3D printed materials. It is a thermoplastic polyester. What is exciting about PLA is its wide range of possible uses and the fact that it is biodegradable and mechanically recyclable. It is expected that PLA will soon take the place of PVC. Welcome news as PVC is not biodegradable and very permanently harmful to the environment. PLA is biodegradable because it is actually made with corn starch or sugarcane. What has prevented PLA from overtaking the commonality of other plastics such as PVC, is the need for lactic acid to create it. But in the end, as PLA is composed of renewable materials, as apposed to the more common and limited resource petroleum-based plastics, it will likely overtake its non-environmentally friendly counterparts, sooner rather than later. While it does take a long time for PLA to decompose, it is definitely an improvement over plastics which will not ever decompose. To bond PLA to Nylon, follow the steps of outlined in the Process. As PLA is a thermoplastic polyester, firm pressure and proper curing time may be preferable to the activator, for maximum pliability. 
ABS– ABS stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Like PLA it is common in the 3D printing arena. ABS is a thermoplastic polymer. Everyone whether they realize it or not, is familiar with ABS plastic. Legos, a toy most people in their lives have played with at one time or another, is made from ABS. Lego uses ABS for its safety strength and durability. The consumer led desire for an environmentally friendly product, has compelled Lego to replace their ABS blocks, with sugarcane based polyethylene by 2030. Unlike with Legos, ABS is not going anywhere soon in the realm of 3D printing. ABS is an inexpensive cost effective choice. Its ability to withstand temperature extremes and chemicals, also make it a desirable substrate for many. It is also for those reasons, that molecular bonding is an ideal choice for ABS bonding applications. Our surface insensitive structural adhesive and subsequent Bonding Poly Process, is impervious to extreme high and low temperatures as well as common chemicals such as gas and oil. To bond ABS to Nylon follow the steps outlined in the Process. With the gloss typically inherit with ABS plastic, it is important to rough the surface of the ABS, that is to be bonded.
Bonding Repair Steps:
To bond nylon
- Use sandpaper to rough the nylon surface(s) then clean the surface with a soft cloth.
- Saturate the nylon with an adhesion promoter for polymers.
- Spray one nylon surfaces with a solvent based Activator/Accelerator (AA).
- Warm the nylon with a hair dryer or heat gun. Warm to very warm but not hot.
- Apply an SI Structural Adhesive to the opposite surface (from where you sprayed the Accelerator).
- Firmly press for fifteen seconds.
- Warm the bond for twenty-thirty seconds
As a result of this process, the two nylon surfaces will be bonded. Operational strength is achieved almost immediately, but the strength of the bond is directly proportional to the amount of time it is given to fully cure.
To bond nylon to metal
- Rough the nylon and the metal with a low-grit coarse sand paper.
- Saturate the nylon surface with an adhesion promoter designed to work with nylon and other poly’s.
- Spray a solvent based Activator/Accelerator (AA) on either the nylon or metal.
- Warm the nylon surface with a hair dryer or heat gun. Warm to very warm, but not hot.
- Apply an SI Structural Adhesive to the opposite surface from where the accelerated was sprayed.
- Firmly press for 8 – 15 seconds.
- Warm the bond for 16-18 seconds
*If you have any questions, feel free to call 877-565-7225.
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I make custom 3D printed items for people on etsy. More often than not, people want the most elaborate pieces imaginable. The working time this system gives me is priceless. I like to prime the nylon first, then use the bonding agent and then spray the activator to set it. I don't make any mistakes lining the pieces up that way. It gives me plenty of working time and then i spray it when i have it just right. I dont know what i would do without it. Dries clear. You would think it was all one piece.
The front 2' of my Remington stock broke completely off. It wasn't just a crack, it was in two pieces. I didn't think I would be able to fix it. Tried some stuff on amazon first and it seemed to work. Gave it a day and it fell right back apart as soon as I went to pick it up. Then I bought this with the debonder to get off the old junk, like they told me. Cleaned the old junk off and wiped it down. Let the debonder dry off and then stuck the two pieces together. Didn't want to waste another day waiting, so I tried seeing if it was together after a short while and it was.