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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic Nylon PA6

Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic Nylon PA6Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C90MPasourcetypical, dry
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourcednot sourced
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °Cnot sourced
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical3.5GPasourcetypical, dry
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical1,130kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg79.6kN·m/kg1.84x higher
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg3.1MN·m/kg40% higher
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus0.827GPa1.25GPa1.51x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.48GPa5.83GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s1,760m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical1.94x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth7% less510µm growth
Specific heatnot sourced1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.172mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m49.9W/m2.34x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced220°CsourceDSC
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods)

Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (2x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 1,130 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA6?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)40% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)14% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate6% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie1.84x heavierlighter
Strong beam46% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate30% heavierlighter

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic Nylon PA6 conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA6
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA6
Strength against density

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