Properties of Nylon 6 (PA-6)
Nylon 6, also known as polyamide 6 (PA-6), is a widely used engineering thermoplastic known for its toughness, abrasion resistance, and mechanical strength. Produced via caprolactam polymerization, Nylon 6 offers excellent performance in both industrial and consumer applications.
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The following table provides a comprehensive list of nylon 6 (PA-6) properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).
Click on the button to switch between Metric and Imperial units.
| Physical Properties | Metric |
|---|---|
| Category | Thermoplastic |
| Density | 1130 kg/m3 |
| Water Absorption | 2.7 %wt/day |
| Mechanical Properties | Metric |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 78 MPa |
| Yield Tensile Strength | 44 MPa |
| Young’s Modulus (E) | 2.6 - 3.0 GPa |
| Flexural Modulus | 0.97 GPa |
| Elongation at Break | 300% |
| Rockwell Hardness (M) | 82 |
| Static Friction Coefficient (µ) | 0.2 - 0.3 |
| Thermal Properties | Metric |
| Melting Point | 223 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.23 W/m·K |
| Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) | 1600 J/kg·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (αL) | 4.5×10-5 1/°C |
| Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) | 53 °C |
| Electrical Properties | Metric |
| Relative Permittivity (@1 MHz) (εr) | 3.6 |
| Electrical Resistivity | 5×1012 Ω·cm |
| Dielectric Field Strength (Ed) | 250 kV/cm |
| Optical Properties | Metric |
| Refractive Index (589 nm) | 1.53 |
| Hazardous Data | Metric |
| Flammability Rating (ANSI/UL 94) | Self extinguishable |
Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009.