Materials / Compare

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Plastic Nylon PA66

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Plastic Nylon PA66 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
Plastic Nylon PA66Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced85MPasourcetypical, dry
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourcednot sourced
Flexural strength310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)not sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced30%sourcenominal strain at break, dry
Young's modulus (stiffness)320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)3GPasourcetypical, dry
Density3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)1,130kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced75.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight94.1MN·m/kg35.5x higher2.65MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus129GPa120x stiffer in shear1.07GPa
Bulk modulus205GPa5GPa
Speed of sound9,701m/s1,629m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)98µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing23µm growth21.3x less490µm growth
Specific heat710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)62.1mm²/s362x faster0.172mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced57.2W/m
Melting pointnot sourced260°CsourceDSC
Max service temperaturenot sourced101°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
Values forKYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03BASF Ultramid A3K (PA66, 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

Which is lighter, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic Nylon PA66?

Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 3,400 kg/m³ for Ceramic Aluminum Nitride.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic Nylon PA66?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 3 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA66, so the same part in Ceramic Aluminum Nitride deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic Nylon PA66?

For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beCeramic Aluminum NitridePlastic Nylon PA66
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter35.5x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter3.43x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter1.58x heavier

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, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic Nylon PA66?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 98 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Aluminum NitridePlastic Nylon PA66
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic Nylon PA66
Strength against density

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