Zip ties are predominantly made from plastic, metal or a combination of metal coated in plastic.
Each zip tie is designed to be used in specific environments, with different structural properties making each tie suitable for different conditions.
The right material zip tie will depend on the environment in which you plan to use them.
We’ll take a look at each material in more detail, and untangle the differences between each, followed by an overview chart covering each material, their main features and the environment in which they are designed to be used within.
Standard Nylon Plastic Zip ties
What type of plastic are Zip ties made from?
The standard zip tie is made from nylon 6/6 and is suitable for most general-purpose applications.
Nylon 6/6 refers to the nylon’s chemical structure, and more specifically, the number of polymer chains that make up that structure.
Nylon 6/6 is ideal for general purpose Zip ties due to it’s flexibility, high tensile strength, resistance to tension, and resistance to external agents and weathering.Nylon is a general name used to group together a number of different plastics, or synthetic polymers, referred to as polyamides.
UV and Heat Stabilised Nylon Zip ties
Which Zip ties are heat resistant?
Standard nylon Zip ties are resistant up to +85°C. However, a general purpose nylon zip tie will see a reduction in it’s physical properties when exposed to extreme high temperature.
UV and heat stabilised nylon Zip ties, on the other hand, are manufactured with specially formulated heat stabilizers to provide additional endurance, suitable for working environments up to 120°C.
Our UV and heat resistant Zip ties also provide higher resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light, allowing these Zip ties to be used in continuous exposure to outdoor use, making them perfect for jobs that require extra protection again sunlight and high temperatures.
Stainless Steel Zip ties
What are metal Zip ties?
Metal Zip ties are made from stainless steel to provide extra strength and withstand high temperatures, vibration. Also, due to the high melting point, 316 stainless steel Zip ties are generally accepted as fire-resistant and flame retardant.
All our metal Zip ties are made from marine grade 316 stainless steel, as they provide the highest tensile strength and the best available protection against corrosion, allowing them to be used in the most extreme temperatures and harsh environmental conditions.
The formation of a protective chromium oxide outer layer on the metal protects the base metal from moisture, preventing the formation of iron oxide or rust. Whilst 316 stainless steel is not completely rust-proof, it is the most corrosion resistant of the stainless steels.
Nylon v Stainless Steel Metal Zip ties
Stainless steel Zip ties should be preferred to standard nylon Zip ties in conditions of extreme heat or harsh environmental factors where extreme weather conditions, extreme temperatures, radiation and strength are important considerations.
In these situations, nylon Zip ties would not provide the added strength and corrosion protection provided by stainless steel Zip ties.
Overview of Materials:
Which to Use and When
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Type |
Properties |
Applications |
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Nylon 6/6 – Standard Zip ties
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The standard nylon zip tie is suitable for general cable management and object securing applications. Commonly used in DIY, gardening, signage as well as many other household and commercial tasks.
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Nylon 6/6 – UV & Heat Stabilised
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UV and heat resistant Zip ties are ideal for environments with extended exposure to sunlight. Where standard nylon Zip ties can degrade if they are exposed to high levels of heat or UV rays these Zip ties are made to withstand these higher temperatures and hasher conditions. This means that UV & Heat resistant Zip ties are ideal for situations where they are closer to machinery that might increase the surrounding temperatures.
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Nylon 6/6 – Metal Detectable
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Metal detectable Zip ties are designed for the food, beverage & pharmaceutical processing industries. The internal metal based nature of these Zip ties means that they are easy to detect when they are used in processing so nothing is left within the contents of the items being processed.
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Stainless Steel – Marine Grade 316 Stainless Steel
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Stainless steel metal Zip ties are commonly used for applications that require a higher strength, higher temperature range and resistance to weathering, corrosion, fire or chemicals. These Zip ties are used when the additional material and tensile strength is required, they are widely used across aircraft, production line facilities, mines, commercial kitchens, power plants, tunnels and oil and gas platforms.
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Stainless Steel – PVC Coated
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PVC coated stainless steel Zip ties are frequently used as long-term solutions in harsher environments, due to their resistance to water, salt and chemicals. Thanks to their incredibly hardwearing nature the PVC coated stainless steel Zip ties are used in aeronautical, mining, maritime and other heavy duty industrial applications.
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Stainless Steel – Epoxy Coated
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Epoxy coated Zip ties are frequently used as long-term solutions in harsher environments due to their resistance to water, salt and chemicals. Similar to the PVC coated stainless steel ties these Zip ties are used in incredibly heavy duty and demanding environments
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*Please note that we don't sell all these zip ties mentioned here currently on our website but we are working on getting them live as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.
We hope this guide helps differentiate the different types of materials available and provides some guidance on the best solution to use in which environment.
For any further questions on specifics, you can contact us via live chat, email or phone for further enquiries and we’d be happy to help.
Keep an eye out for our next article, which works to unpack the jargon surrounding Zip ties to help understand the practical implications of the different sizes, bundle diameters and tensile strengths.