the strength and toughness of frn, etc.

mgebhard · #1

I would appreciate information on the toughness, strength, durability, etc. of FRN, Zytel and similar hard plastic materials utilized for knife handles, etc. Thanks. I cannot find many specifics so far on the Internet.

The Deacon · #2

Zytel is a specific brand of FRN made by Dupont. FRN is not a hard plastic, it is relatively flexible. It will abrade much more easily than G-10, micarta, and carbon fiber. It will melt if exposed to high heat and burn if exposed long enough to an open flame. But it is also extremely strong and tough.

markg · #3

I ran over a plastic handled knife from another manufacturer, with my SUV. 5 times.

I could have sold it as NIB.

The stuff is tougher than you need, aside from setting it on fire or grinding on something, you really have no worries.

Research some of the stuff people have done to Glocks. It is insane what it will handle.

A.P.F. · #4

I have seen FRN sleeve bearings wear a groove in hardened stainless shafts. I was a believer after seeing that.

Shifty · #5

The Deacon wrote:It will abrade much more easily than G-10, micarta, and carbon fiber.

I thought it was the opposite. I have seen pictures of worn down G-10, where the texture has been dulled, but everyone says their FRN handles still look like brand new.

The Deacon · #6

Shifty wrote:I thought it was the opposite. I have seen pictures of worn down G-10, where the texture has been dulled, but everyone says their FRN handles still look like brand new.

That's true, but if you made an FRN handle with the same texture Spyderco uses on G-10, it would wear off even more quickly. The cross section of the "waffle" texture on G-10 is very thin and is resin only, no glass, so it's somewhat brittle. FRN handles have much bolder, thicker texture, so it's less prone to wear. OTOH, if you rub a piece of smooth FRN and a piece of smooth G-10 on sandpaper, for the same distance, using equal pressure, you'd see more material removed from the FRN.

Shifty · #7

Ah ok cool. I see what you mean. I also didn't know that there was a layer of resin on the outide of the G-10, which is what's textured, that's good to know.

araneae · #8

Shifty wrote:Ah ok cool. I see what you mean. I also didn't know that there was a layer of resin on the outide of the G-10, which is what's textured, that's good to know.

Actually its not just a layer on the outside. The G-10 is a composite with resin being 1 component. As far as I know, G-10 is a glass reinforced epoxy laminate. Woven fiberglass cloth is laminated with an epoxy resin under pressure. The textured part that is on the outside of the handle would be only resin. The cloth is just below.