Caprolon specific weight: sheet and rod weight

High-tech polymers are used in many industrial fields. They compete with metals and, in some tasks, can be more convenient because of lower weight, corrosion resistance and good anti-friction properties. Caprolon is one such polymer.

Caprolon Characteristics

In its natural state this material is yellowish-white, but when special additives are introduced it can be colored in different shades. It has no odor and, under normal operating conditions, does not emit toxic substances. When overheated or thermally decomposed, the polymer can release hazardous products, so processing must be carried out in compliance with safety requirements.

Caprolon is an excellent dielectric. It is resistant to alkaline media, alcohols, petroleum products, saline environments and weak acidic media. It is easy to cold-machine, suitable for casting, has a long service life and can be used without lubrication in friction points. Thanks to these qualities, it can be used in many industrial areas:

• electrical engineering;

• oil production stations;

• mining industry;

• aircraft construction and mechanical engineering;

• metallurgy;

• food industry;

• agriculture;

• footwear industry and other production areas.

The key feature of the material is strength and wear resistance. This anti-friction characteristic allows it to be used for manufacturing bearings, moving units of power installations, engines and other assemblies. An additional advantage is a noticeable reduction in cost and weight of structures.

Forms and Weight of Caprolon

Caprolon is 6-7 times lighter than steel and bronze, more than twice as cheap, and much more convenient to process. Depending on modification, density is 1.14-1.16 g/cm³. This means that replacing metal bearings on a cargo ship can lighten the structure by thousands of kilograms. The polymer is produced as rods, sheets and blocks.

Rods of different diameters are used to manufacture parts with circular symmetry by drilling, milling, turning and grinding. They absorb impact loads well and have high heat resistance and mechanical stability compared with a number of common plastics.

Each manufacturer supplies caprolon blanks according to its own parameters. Depending on diameter, caprolon rod weight can range from 0.12 kg/m at 10 mm diameter to 674 kg/m at 815 mm diameter. Sheet caprolon weight also depends on thickness. Square blanks 1000x1000 mm are produced with thickness from 6 to 300 mm. The weight of 1 m² can range from 8.5 to 382 kg.

It is worth noting that the weight of 1 m of caprolon rod is usually calculated for standard sizes. For large diameters, blanks may be produced in shorter lengths, so the actual mass is better checked using the manufacturer’s data.