Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Plastic Polypropylene
Compare Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Plastic Polypropylene 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 | 33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry | 1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527 |
| Density | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical | 900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1 |
| Strength to weight | 79.6kN·m/kg2.17x higher | 36.7kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 3.1MN·m/kg1.92x higher | 1.61MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | 0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| Shear modulus | 1.25GPa2.45x stiffer in shear | 0.511GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 5.83GPa | 3.02GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,760m/s | 1,269m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical | 0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| Thermal expansion | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C | 80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 510µm growth | 450µm growth13% less |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.172mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 49.9W/m1.75x more resistant | 28.6W/m |
| Melting point | 220°CsourceDSC | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h | 90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed |
| Values for | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) | LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO values |
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 Polypropylene?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (2.73x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 1,130 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, 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 Polypropylene?
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 Polypropylene |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 1.92x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 24% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 7% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.17x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.55x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 32% 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 Polypropylene?
Plastic Nylon PA6 conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.195 W/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic Polypropylene expands less: 90 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.