Synthetic

Synthetic filament types combine several beneficial characteristics ideal for use in many brush products and for several applications including excellent bend recovery and abrasion and chemical resistance. Tanis offers five different synthetic filament options – nylon, quill, polypropylene, polyester and PTFE (Teflon®).

Nylon

Tanis carries four types of nylon filaments available in several colors, with crimped or level (straight) fibers and diameters ranging from .003” to .125”. Nylon is an effective filament choice for use in wet conditions because it has a high absorption rate, reducing the filament stiffness. Nylon also has the highest heat deflection temperature, but is prone to oxidation embrittlement after long exposure to high temperature.

• Nylon 6 is a quality filament, providing durability at a lower cost for several applications. Reduces stiffness in wet conditions by 80%.
• Nylon 6.6 is a high-quality nylon filament that has improved wet and dry stiffness compared to Nylon 6. It has excellent bend recovery and abrasion resistance. A heat stabilizer additive makes this filament less prone to oxidation.
• Nylon 6.12 is a superior grade, high-quality nylon filament that offers excellent bend recovery and abrasion resistance. Its low moisture absorption makes it an excellent filament choice for wet applications. The individual fibers can be made in an “X” shape to increase performance and wear characteristics.
• Anti-Static Nylon filaments eliminate the problems generated by static charges by providing a rapid dissipation of the charge. Traditional, conductive nylon materials have to be grounded in order to dissipate charges, whereas anti-static materials inhibit the generation of static charges initially.

Quill

Quill is a hollow 6.12 filament that is used in a variety of applications but is most commonly used in paint brushes and tape dispenser brushes.

Polypropylene

This superior quality and versatile filament has excellent wet stiffness and flex fatigue resistance. Inert to most solvents, oils and chemicals, polypropylene is especially good at resisting strong acids and bases. While it still has good bend recovery, Polypropylene has limited natural sunlight resistance which is greatly improved with a black colored filament.

Polypropylene filaments are made with crimped or level (straight) fibers and several colors and diameters from .003” to .060”. It can be made with a triangular or “X” shape and made flagged or unflagged for improved surface contact and liquid retention. This shaped polypropylene is also available in larger sizes.

Polyester

Polyester has improved abrasion resistance compared to polypropylene and is an economical substitute for nylon 6.6 or 6.12 for many applications. This fiber has good resistance to sunlight, excellent bend recovery and is solvent resistant and oxidation resistance at high temperatures. It is an ideal filament for many wet applications because the fiber does not absorb much water. A heat stabilizer additive makes filament less prone to oxidation.

Polyester filaments are made with a crimped or level (straight) fiber, several colors and diameters ranging from .006” to .075”. Polyester can be made in a “X” shape for improved liquid retention.

PTFE

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is most well-known by its brand name – Teflon®. This filament is inert to most chemicals and is excellent material for high temperature applications for continuous use limit at 500°F. PTFE is available in .008”, .011”, .016” and .035” filament diameters.