Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Steel
Compare Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Steel 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 | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Elongation at break | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 79.6kN·m/kg1.62x higher | 49kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 3.1MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg8.23x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | 1.25GPa | 76.9GPa61.5x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 5.83GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,760m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 510µm growth | 60µm growth8.5x less |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.172mm²/s | 13mm²/s75.7x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 49.9W/m | 5,390W/m108x more resistant |
| Melting point | 220°CsourceDSC | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h | not sourced |
| Values for | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
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 Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (4.28x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Steel?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).
| Part that must be | Plastic Nylon PA6 | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 8.23x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 9% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.8x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.62x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.64x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3.36x 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 Steel?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.