A plastic washer is a small, flat disk with a hole in the center that is used to distribute load or to prevent movement between two surfaces. The most common type of plastic washer is made of nylon. Nylon washers are used in many applications where a soft, non-marring surface is required such as in electrical connections and where two surfaces need to be kept from rubbing together.
Plastic washers can also be made from other materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or PTFE (Teflon). These materials are chosen for their resistance to chemicals, heat, or cold. Washers made from these materials are used in situations where metal washers would corrode or where temperature extremes would cause metal to become brittle and break.