What is a nylock bolt
A nylock bolt is a type of bolt that uses a nylon ring embedded at the top for locking. It can withstand tensile strengths up to 70MPa and temperatures from -40°C to 120°C, widely used in automotive, construction, and energy industries.
Structure and Principle of Nylon Locking Bolts
Nylon locking bolts consist of two parts: the bolt body and a nylon ring embedded at the top of the nut.
The principle of nylon locking bolts is based on the dual action of friction and mechanical locking. The nylon ring the nut contains is compressed when tightened, making friction between threads of bolt and a part that includes this kind material. According to statistics, the failure rate of mechanical equipment using nylon locking bolts can be reduced by more than 50%.
Additionally, nylon locking bolts come in a variety of sizes and specifications, with common sizes being M3, M4, M6, M8, and M10. For function, an M8 nylon locking bolt can provide a tensile strength of 70MPa and temperature resistance from -40°C to 120°C that covers the majority industrial environment requirements.
A locking device is also no longer needed during the installation of nylon lock bolts, making assembly easier and cheaper to produce. For example, in the automotive manufacturing industry, using nylon locking bolts reduces assembly time by approximately 20%, saving millions of dollars in production costs annually.
Nylon locking bolts have the characteristics of high resistance to corrosion and wearing which means this washer will hold its fastening effect well in harsh environments. For example, the use of nylon lock bolts in marine engineering is not affected by seawater corrosion to ensure the safe operation of equipment.
Applications of Nylon Locking Bolts
The nylon locking bolt has been widely used in various industries and is one of the most important fasteners for many types mechanical equipment by its excellent non-slip ability and wear resistance.
The automotive manufacturing industry is an important application field for nylon locking bolts. For example, an ordinary car engine uses more than 200 nylon locking bolts, which can withstand temperatures up to 120°C, effectively extending the engine’s service life.
In the construction industry, nylon locking bolts are widely used in connecting components of steel structures. For example, is constructed with more than 500k nylon locking bolts— each rated at a whopping 80 MPa tensile strength — as part of that building’s seismic strengthening.
In the energy sector, automotive parts play a significant role especially in wind and solar power generation equipment. Thus, each wind turbine to install the blades, respectively requires about 500-600 nylon locking bolts for each blade machine to ensure that under strong winds will not loose. Circa 20-30 nylon locking bolts are used for each solar panel bracket, further strengthening the hold of panels in rocky and stormy conditions.
Nylon locking screws are also used in the application of household appliances manufacturing, for example a washing machine and refrigerator, nylon lock bolts apply to large home appliance key joint parts. To illustrate, even a premium washing machine may need to use about 50 of nylon locking bolt for its internal connections, in this way preventing loosening due to vibrations and extending the life and maintenance period between two servicing.
Nylon locking bolts are used in the rail transportation industry for connecting parts of high-speed trains and subway cars. Each high-speed train uses approximately 20,000 nylon locking bolts, ensuring the safety of the train during high-speed operation.
In military equipment manufacturing, nylon locking bolts are used in key connection parts of heavy equipment such as tanks and armored vehicles. For example, an M1 Abrams tank uses more than 3,000 nylon locking bolts, ensuring its stability and reliability in complex battlefield environments.
Maintenance and Care of Nylon Locking Bolts
Nylon Locking Bolts need to be maintained and handled according to certain operating rules, which are necessary for the long-term stability of its operations.
Conduct a comprehensive inspection every three months. In high-vibration equipment, such as wind turbines, nylon locking bolts need to be inspected in detail four times a year to ensure that the bolts at the blade connection points do not loosen after prolonged operation.
For frequently used equipment, perform a fastening inspection once a month and adjust the inspection cycle based on the equipment’s specific operating conditions. For example, in the connecting parts of high-speed train cars, nylon locking bolts need to be inspected once a month to ensure the stability and safety of the connections.
In corrosive environments, such as marine engineering and chemical equipment, nylon locking bolts need to undergo anti-corrosion treatment every six months. After each treatment, check whether the anti-corrosion coating on the bolt surface is intact and repair any damaged areas.
When used in high-temperature environments, such as automotive engines and industrial furnaces, conduct high-temperature performance inspections twice a year to ensure the fastening effect of the bolts and nylon rings at high temperatures. For example, large automotive manufacturers conduct detailed high-temperature performance tests twice a year on nylon locking bolts used in engines to ensure their reliability in environments up to 120°C.
During maintenance, use professional tools, such as torque wrenches, to ensure that the fastening force of each bolt is within the standard range. According to equipment manufacturers’ specifications, the fastening force of nylon locking bolts generally ranges from 50 to 80 Nm.
If used in high-load and vibration environments, all the main bolts should be replaced every five years again to prolong the life of nylon locking bolts. During change, the bolts must pass professional testing equipment to measure various performance indexes of new producing bolt according to its use requirement.
