Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare Plastic Nylon vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 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 | 63.1MPasourcetypical | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 82.9MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.33GPasourcetypical | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 55.4kN·m/kg | 79.6kN·m/kg44% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.04MN·m/kg | 3.1MN·m/kg1.51x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 0.833GPa | 1.25GPa1.5x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 3.89GPa | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,430m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 500µm growth2% less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.17mm²/s | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 53.6W/m7% more resistant | 49.9W/m |
| Melting point | 188°Csourcetypical | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Glass transition | 55.1°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| Values for | Ultimaker Nylon, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat), conditioned >=24 h at room temperature; Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v2.00, April 20, 2022. | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) |
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.
Plastic Nylon is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic Nylon stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (43%).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 1,140 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or Plastic Nylon PA6?
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 | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 1.51x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 24% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 16% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 44% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 28% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 20% heavier | lighter |
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 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic Nylon expands less: 100 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.