Will my Endura melt?

D

David Rock

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
883
I've been wondering what will happen if I leave a Zytel(or "fiberglass reinforced nylon resin")-handled knife in a hot car during the Alabama summer. I don't park in the shade, by the way.

How much heat is required to deform the plastic?

My guess is that the FRNR will survive being left in a hot car, but I don't want to test it myself if I can get an expert to report on tests that have, no doubt, already been performed.

Thanks.

David Rock
 
I know the plastic will take 200 degrees. Danelle, sounds like a Patrick question?
sal
 
Ah, plastics, up my alley. Nylon 6/6's, such as Zytel, have a normal melting point in the 250-260 deg. C range. There's normally a maximum service temperature, or heat deflection temperature, that defines the upper temp range before the material stiffness or strength falls off the scale as far as usefulness. Reinforcements such as fiberglass can raise this temp almost to the meltpoint itself. For example, a nylon with a 30% filler content has a max service temp or heat deflection temp around 240 deg. C. Corresponding temps for unfilled nylon 6/6's are only around 80 deg. C or so.
This long diatribe is a way of saying that depending on which grade of Zytel Sal and the gang is using (it would be a shame to just cut up an Endura for testing results when Sal or somebody can probably let us know), leaving an Endura in the car shouldn't melt it.
For the short answer, shouldn't be a problem.

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Don LeHue

The pen is mightier thant he sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.

 
I hear ya~

Patrick and I are engaged in a game of phone tag...I'll post asap

Danelle
 
Speaking of melting plastics,

I am sure this has been asked before but does DEET melt Zytel??

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Harvey Wareham

Live Long & Prosper, so you can buy more knives :)


 
I have some response from R&D...
Apparently, FRNR (Zytel) needs to be 1500 degrees to inject, which is to make the mold, but will begin to liquify, (or melt in a REALLY hot car) at 420-490 degrees farenheit.
As for deet, I have no idea...keeps the skeeters off, doesnt it? (Thats all I know about deet)

Danelle

[This message has been edited by djo62 (edited 16 April 1999).]
 
Danelle,
Can you please verify this? With all due respect, 1500 deg to inject? Nylons melt in the ranges discussed, but will burn off at 1500 deg. (I run ash determinations normally in muffle furnaces at 625 deg. C, or 1150 deg. F and all that's left is the filler ash, no polymer.) *1500* sounds much more like it would be an injection or hold pressure during processing in injection molding machines. For a temperature, that sounds quite excessive. If there's one thing I learned in 15 years in plastics, it's how to burn nylon.
smile.gif


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Don LeHue

The pen is mightier thant he sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.

 
I dont know WHY you people ask me these things. Vince is sitting here shaking his head..something about me being blonde...

Here's the scoop from him...
600-1500 psi injection pressure
melt temp 425-455 degrees F
any more than 550 nylon (FRNR) will degrade.

And that is from the plastic shooting man himself.
Danelle

 
Danelle, thanks for checking. Hope it didn't seem like I was harping or anything. Tell Vince that he's tap dancing on a minefield. You may be blonde, but you *do* carry a knife.
wink.gif


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Don LeHue

The pen is mightier thant he sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.



[This message has been edited by DonL (edited 17 April 1999).]
 
Heck no, you aren't harping. Heaven forbid I post such blatant misinformation and no one calls me on it..till Sal sees me that is. (The buck stops RIGHT THERE)

Im glad I had an opportunity to get an answer for you.

Danelle
 
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