Nylatron
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Nylatron is a tradename for a family of nylon plastics, typically filled with molybdenum disulfide lubricant powder. It is used to cast plastic parts for machines, because of its mechanical properties and wear-resistance.
Bearings
From "Norman Gracy's Atlantic", Live Steam Magazine, December 1976:
- John and Norm have been doing some experimenting with a new bearing material - molybdenum disulphide impregnated nylon (trade name Nylatron). It is available in round rod of various diameters. Norm and John have machined various journals and sleeves from it and found it almost unreal. For example: installed in the crosshead to main rod bearing, it showed no noticeable play or wear after six months whereas oilite bronze bushings have had to be replaced after six weeks of heavy running. This material requires no oil; in fact DO NOT oil.
- Paul Brien (Mid-South Live Steamers) installed Nylatron bearings and bushings on his first locomotive (7.5 inch gauge 0-6-0) in the late 1960s. Due to Paul's background as a tool & die maker, and later QC manager, he was inclined to make things to close fits. What he learned was that Nylatron has a relatively high coefficient of expansion and on it's first test steaming, as soon as his bearings and bushings heated up, the loco locked up solid. He discovered that anything made of Nylatron needed expansion clearance and once that was determined the Nylatron, and the loco which is still running, performed very well.