Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. Plastic UHMWPE 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 | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Elongation at break | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical | 930kg/m³sourcetypical22% lighter |
| Strength to weight | 79.6kN·m/kg3.7x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 3.1MN·m/kg4.36x higher | 0.71MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 1.25GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 5.83GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 1,760m/s | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 510µm growth1.96x less | 1,000µm growth |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.172mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 49.9W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | 220°CsourceDSC | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Max service temperature | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature |
| Values for | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) | Celanese GUR 4120 (avg. molecular weight 4.7x10^6 g/mol), typical values on compression-molded specimens; CTE and thermal conductivity from Celanese's generic UHMWPE guide (grade not named) |
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 UHMWPE?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (4.5x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,130 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, 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 UHMWPE?
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 UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 4.36x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.9x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 44% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 3.7x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.24x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.75x 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 UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE 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 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.