Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal
Compare Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal 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 | 69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 69MPasourcetypical |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical |
| Elongation at break | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry | 75%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry | 2.8GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,420kg/m³sourcetypical (DuPont product information for Delrin 100 NC010; 'The data listed here fall within the normal range of product properties') |
| Strength to weight | 79.6kN·m/kg1.64x higher | 48.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 3.1MN·m/kg1.57x higher | 1.97MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | 0.35sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 1.25GPa21% stiffer in shear | 1.04GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 5.83GPa | 3.11GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,760m/s | 1,404m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical21% more heat through a fin |
| Thermal expansion | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C | 122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 510µm growth20% less | 610µm growth |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical | 1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.172mm²/s | 0.192mm²/s12% faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 49.9W/m | 52.5W/m5% more resistant |
| Melting point | 220°CsourceDSC | 175°Csourcecrystalline melting point |
| Max service temperature | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h | 125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed) |
| Values for | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) | DuPont Delrin 100 acetal homopolymer, Table 2 'Typical Properties of Delrin Acetal Resins' (ASTM methods), Delrin Design Guide Module III hosted on delrin.com |
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 POM/Acetal?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 69 MPa for Plastic POM/Acetal (30%).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 1,420 kg/m³ for Plastic POM/Acetal.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 2.8 GPa for Plastic POM/Acetal, 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 POM/Acetal?
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 POM/Acetal |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 1.57x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 40% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 35% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.64x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.5x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 44% 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 POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic Nylon PA6 expands less: 102 µm/m·K against 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.