Materials / Compare
Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare Aluminum 6061-T6 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 | 276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 310MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 68.3GPasourcetypical | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 2,700kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 102kN·m/kg28% higher | 79.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg8.17x higher | 3.1MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 25.7GPa20.5x stiffer in shear | 1.25GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 67GPa | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,030m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 118µm growth4.32x less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | 896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 69mm²/s402x faster | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 19,159W/m384x more resistant | 49.9W/m |
| Melting point | 582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| Values for | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | 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 Aluminum 6061-T6 stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (3.07x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6061-T6.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in Aluminum 6061-T6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie; Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum 6061-T6 | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 8.17x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.85x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 13% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 28% heavier |
| Strong beam | 13% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 36% 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, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 6061-T6 expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.