Industry: Heavy Equipment / OEM Manufacturing
Application: Wear Pads, Slide Components, and Pivot Interfaces
Material Used: Cast Nylon (Nylatron GSM)
Services Provided: Material Conversion Engineering, Precision Machining, Application Analysis
Project Overview
A heavy equipment OEM partnered with Lehigh Valley Plastics to solve recurring premature failures in a critical wear component used in a high-load pivot and sliding application. The part — originally machined from UHMW — was experiencing cold flow under sustained compressive load, resulting in dimensional drift, excess clearance, misalignment with mating components, and frequent in-field replacements. LVP evaluated the operating conditions, identified UHMW creep as the root cause, and recommended a material conversion to Nylatron GSM cast nylon to restore dimensional stability and extend service life.
Customer Challenges
- Premature wear-component failure in a high-load pivot and sliding interface
- Cold flow (creep) deformation in the original UHMW component under continuous compressive load
- Loss of dimensional tolerance, increased clearance, and misalignment between mating parts
- Unplanned downtime and frequent field maintenance driving up total cost of ownership
- Need for a load-bearing plastic that could maintain geometry in demanding outdoor conditions
LVP’s Nylatron GSM-Based Solution
After analyzing the load profile and failure mode, Lehigh Valley Plastics recommended converting the component from UHMW to Nylatron GSM, a molybdenum disulfide-filled cast nylon engineered for high-load, low-speed wear applications. Nylatron GSM offers substantially higher compressive strength than UHMW, along with superior creep resistance and long-term dimensional stability under continuous pressure. LVP machined the components directly to print, holding the critical tolerances required for proper fit, alignment, and function in the assembly.
Key Advantages of Nylatron GSM for Heavy Equipment Wear Components
- High compressive strength — handles sustained load without permanent deformation
- Excellent creep resistance — eliminates cold flow in load-bearing applications
- Dimensional stability — maintains tolerances over extended service life
- Built-in solid lubricant — MoS₂ filler provides low-friction performance for pivot and slide interfaces
- Tough, impact-resistant matrix — performs reliably in outdoor, high-vibration field conditions
- Machinable to tight tolerances — supports precision OEM specifications
Results & Outcomes
- Cold flow deformation eliminated in the converted components
- Dimensional geometry maintained across extended field service intervals
- 2–3x increase in part life compared to the original UHMW design
- Reduced maintenance frequency and unplanned downtime
- Improved overall equipment reliability in high-load, outdoor operating conditions
- Lower total cost of ownership through fewer replacements and longer service cycles
The material conversion delivered measurable performance gains for the OEM and reinforced a key engineering principle: while UHMW excels in low-friction, low-load wear applications, it is not the right choice for sustained compressive environments. By matching the material to the actual load profile, Lehigh Valley Plastics helped the customer move from reactive maintenance to predictable, long-cycle performance.
Are you experiencing deformation, excess wear, or frequent replacement of plastic wear components? Send us a print or connect with our engineering team to explore a material solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cold flow in plastics?
Cold flow, also called creep, is the permanent deformation of a plastic material under sustained load at temperatures below its melting point. Unlike elastic deformation, cold flow is irreversible — once the material has shifted, it does not return to its original shape, which causes dimensional loss and misalignment in load-bearing components.
Is cold flow the same as creep?
Yes. In plastics engineering, cold flow and creep describe the same mechanism: slow, permanent deformation of a polymer under continuous stress. Both terms refer to the gradual movement of material over time when a constant load is applied, leading to loss of tolerance and dimensional stability in the part.
Why does UHMW experience cold flow under load?
UHMW has excellent abrasion resistance and a low coefficient of friction, but its compressive strength is relatively low compared to engineered nylons. Under sustained pressure, the polymer chains gradually shift, causing the material to compress and deform. This makes UHMW unsuitable for high-load pivot, slide, or wear applications where dimensional stability is critical.
Why is Nylatron GSM a better choice than UHMW for heavy equipment wear components?
Nylatron GSM is a cast nylon filled with molybdenum disulfide, engineered specifically for high-load, low-speed wear applications. It offers significantly higher compressive strength, better creep resistance, and improved dimensional stability than UHMW. In heavy equipment wear pads, slides, and pivot interfaces, this translates to longer part life and fewer unplanned replacements.
How can I tell if a plastic component is failing from cold flow?
Common signs of cold flow failure include increased clearance between mating parts, loss of preload or fit, visible compression or thinning at load-bearing surfaces, and progressive misalignment over time. If a wear component is dimensionally out of spec without showing typical abrasive wear patterns, creep deformation is usually the cause.
Can cold flow in plastics be reversed?
No. Cold flow is permanent plastic deformation, not elastic. Once a polymer has crept under sustained load, it will not return to its original dimensions when the load is removed. The only effective fix is selecting a material with higher compressive strength and creep resistance, such as cast nylon, for the application.