Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Plastic PMMA
Compare Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Plastic PMMA 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 | 90MPasourcetypical, dry | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 115MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry | 5.5%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term |
| Density | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 79.6kN·m/kg18% higher | 67.2kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 3.1MN·m/kg12% higher | 2.77MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | 0.37sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 1.25GPa4% stiffer in shear | 1.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 5.83GPa | 4.23GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,760m/s | 1,665m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical1.74x more heat through a fin | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 510µm growth | 350µm growth46% less |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.172mm²/s1.58x faster | 0.109mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 49.9W/m20% more resistant | 41.5W/m |
| Melting point | 220°CsourceDSC | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature |
| Values for | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) |
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 Plastic Nylon PA6 stronger than Plastic PMMA?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against tensile strength 80 MPa for Plastic PMMA (13%).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for Plastic PMMA.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 3.3 GPa for Plastic PMMA, so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic PMMA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic Nylon PA6 | Plastic PMMA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 12% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 8% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 7% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 18% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 14% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 12% 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, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic Nylon PA6 conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PMMA expands less: 70 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.