Materials / Compare
Brass C360 vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare Brass C360 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 | 310MPasourcetypical, 0.5% extension under load | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 400MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 25%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 96.5GPasourcetypical, temper-independent | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 8,498kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 36.5kN·m/kg | 79.6kN·m/kg2.18x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 11.4MN·m/kg3.67x higher | 3.1MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.34sourcebase material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 36GPa28.8x stiffer in shear | 1.25GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 101GPa | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,370m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 116W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 20.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 103µm growth4.98x less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | 377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 36.2mm²/s211x faster | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 11,997W/m240x more resistant | 49.9W/m |
| Melting point | 888–899°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| Values for | C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values | 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 Brass C360 stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?
Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (3.44x).
Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.
Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C360 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Brass C360 | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 3.67x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 43% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 2.49x heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.18x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 3.3x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 4.05x 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, Brass C360 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.