Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon PA66 vs. Steel A992
Compare Plastic Nylon PA66 vs. Steel A992 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 | 85MPasourcetypical, 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 | 30%sourcenominal strain at break, dry | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 3GPasourcetypical, dry | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 75.2kN·m/kg1.53x higher | 49kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.65MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg9.6x 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 | 1.07GPa | 76.9GPa71.8x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 5GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,629m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 98µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 490µm growth | 60µm growth8.17x 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 | 57.2W/m | 5,390W/m94.2x more resistant |
| Melting point | 260°CsourceDSC | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 101°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h | not sourced |
| Values for | BASF Ultramid A3K (PA66, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) | 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 PA66 stronger than Steel A992?
Steel A992 is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 85 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA66 (4.53x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA66 or Steel A992?
Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel A992.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA66 or Steel A992?
Steel A992 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 3 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA66, so the same part in Steel A992 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon PA66 or Steel A992?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel A992 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).
| Part that must be | Plastic Nylon PA66 | Steel A992 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 9.6x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 18% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.71x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.53x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.54x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3.26x 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 PA66 or Steel A992?
Steel A992 conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel A992 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 98 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.