Materials / Compare
Aluminum vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare Aluminum 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 (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); 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 stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (3.07x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 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 | 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 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.