Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 79.6kN·m/kg2.3x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 3.1MN·m/kg1.74x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (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 modulus | 0.706GPa | 1.25GPa1.77x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth7% less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 49.9W/m2.35x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| Values for | Ultimaker ABS, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v5.00, April 20, 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.
Plastic ABS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic ABS stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (2.36x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,130 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS 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 be | Plastic ABS | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 1.74x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 30% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 18% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.3x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.73x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 50% heavier | lighter |
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 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic ABS expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.