Aluminum 1100-O vs. Plastic Nylon PA6

Compare Aluminum 1100-O vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side

Plastic Nylon PA6Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical
Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	35MPasourcetypical, O, 0.0625 in specimen	90MPasourcetypical, dry
Ultimate tensile strength	90MPasourcetypical, O	not sourced
Elongation at break	35%sourcetypical, O, in 4D	10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPasourcetypical	3.5GPasourcetypical, dry
Density	2,710kg/m³sourcenominal, 20 °C	1,130kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	12.9kN·m/kg	79.6kN·m/kg6.17x higher
Stiffness to weight	25.5MN·m/kg8.22x higher	3.1MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	not sourced	1.25GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	5.83GPa
Speed of sound	5,046m/s	1,760m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	222W/m·Ksourcetypical, O, 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	901J/kg·Ksourcebase material: commercially pure aluminium EN AW-1050A (Hydro), 20 °C	1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	90.9mm²/s529x faster	0.172mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	49.9W/m
Melting point	640–655°Csourcemelting range	220°CsourceDSC
Max service temperature	not sourced	87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
Values for	1100-O (annealed) commercially pure aluminium, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 1100 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from Hydro EN AW-1050A (99.5% Al) extruded-products datasheet (10/2018).	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 1100-O stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 35 MPa for Aluminum 1100-O (2.57x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 1100-O or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 2,710 kg/m³ for Aluminum 1100-O.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 1100-O or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Aluminum 1100-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in Aluminum 1100-O deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 1100-O or Plastic Nylon PA6?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 1100-O is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 1100-O	Plastic Nylon PA6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	8.22x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	1.85x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	13% heavier
Strong rod or tie	6.17x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	4.5x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	3.85x 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 1100-O or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Aluminum 1100-O conducts heat better: 222 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 1100-O expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density