PA6 / PA66 compounds
Glass- and carbon-fiber-reinforced PA6 and PA66 grades, with and without flame retardancy.
Example grade / typical values — to be corrected by GREENPOLYMER
Selection criteria
- Stiffness
- Strength
- Heat resistance
- Moisture absorption
- GRN-PA6-C310Drone arms
- GRN-PA6-E510Flame-retardant glass-fiber-reinforced PA6 (GFRPA)
- GRN-PA6-C510Flame-retardant carbon-fiber-reinforced PA6 (CFRPA)
Reinforced PA6
Glass or carbon fiber
Polyamide 6 (PA6, nylon 6) is strong, wear resistant and oil resistant. With glass fiber or carbon fiber, its stiffness and heat resistance rise clearly, so it can replace some metal structural parts and mold complex shapes in one shot.
All GREENPOLYMER PA6 grades are reinforced. They are used for structural parts such as robot joint arms, drone airframes, 3D printer platform brackets and tool frames.
GREENPOLYMER PA6 grades
| Grade | Key features | Suitable parts |
|---|---|---|
| GRN-PA6-E510 | Flame-retardant glass-fiber-reinforced (GFRPA) | Brackets, housing frames, cost-sensitive structural parts |
| GRN-PA6-C510 | Flame-retardant carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFRPA) | Joint arms, battery compartment structures, printing platform brackets |
| GRN-PA6-C310 | Carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFRPA), non-flame-retardant | Airframes, drone arms and other high-stiffness structural parts |
| GRN-PA6-E310 | Glass-fiber-reinforced (GF30), non-flame-retardant | Power tool housings, gearbox housings, handle frames |
Key properties, dry
Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS.
| Item | Test standard | GRN-PA6-E510 | GRN-PA6-E310 | GRN-PA6-C510 | GRN-PA6-C310 | Aluminum alloy reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183 | 1.40–1.50 g/cm³ | 1.34–1.38 g/cm³ | 1.25–1.35 g/cm³ | 1.20–1.28 g/cm³ | About 2.7 g/cm³ |
| Tensile strength | ISO 527 | 130–160 MPa | 160–190 MPa | 160–220 MPa | 180–250 MPa | — |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178 | 8–10 GPa | 8.5–10 GPa | 12–18 GPa | 13–20 GPa | — |
| HDT (1.80 MPa) | ISO 75 | 190–205 °C | 200–215 °C | 190–210 °C | 200–215 °C | — |
| Flammability (design target) | UL 94 | V-0 @ 1.5 mm | HB @ 1.5 mm | V-0 @ 1.5 mm | HB @ 1.5 mm | — |
Glass fiber or carbon fiber
| Item | Glass-fiber-reinforced | Carbon-fiber-reinforced |
|---|---|---|
| Stiffness | High | Higher |
| Density | Relatively high | Relatively low |
| Cost | Relatively low | Relatively high |
| Electrical properties | Insulating | May be conductive; to be checked |
| Surface | Fibers may show on the surface | Matte dark; fibers may show on the surface |
| Suits | Brackets with high stiffness needs, cost-sensitive | Moving parts and structural parts where weight saving matters |
Moisture absorption: must be considered in design
PA6 absorbs moisture from the air. After absorbing moisture, strength and modulus drop, toughness rises and dimensions swell slightly.
"Dry" data in a TDS is for freshly molded parts that have not absorbed moisture
In use, parts gradually approach the "conditioned" state.
Use conditioned values for design
Conditioned data is available from us on request.
Leave margin in dimensional fits
Swelling from moisture affects assembly clearances.
Processing advice
Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS.
| Item | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Drying | 80 °C, 4–6 h (desiccant dryer); moisture content 0.05–0.2 % recommended |
| Melt temperature | 260–290 °C |
| Mold temperature | 80–100 °C; upper end for a better surface |
| Injection speed | Relatively fast, to reduce fibers on the surface |
| Screw and mold | Fibers are abrasive; wear-resistant screws and hardened mold steel recommended |
| Flame-retardant grades | Limit the maximum temperature and residence time; improve venting |
Design points
Fiber orientation sets the strength direction
Strength is high along the flow direction and lower across it. Place gates to match the main load direction.
Weld lines are weak points
Fibers are not continuous at weld lines, so strength drops clearly there. Keep weld lines out of loaded areas where possible.
Anisotropic shrinkage
Shrinkage differs along and across the flow, which tends to cause warpage. Mold flow analysis can predict it.
Carbon fiber may be conductive
For insulating parts or parts near live components, check the volume resistivity first.
Use ribs instead of thicker walls
Thick walls lengthen cooling time and cause voids.
FAQ
Can reinforced PA6 directly replace aluminum alloy parts?
Not one-for-one. Plastics have a lower modulus than metal and creep under long-term load. Cross-sections and ribs usually need to be redesigned, with fatigue and creep validation.
What is the difference between PA6 and PA66?
PA66 has a higher melting point, better heat resistance and slightly lower moisture absorption. For flame-retardant glass-fiber-reinforced PA66, see PA66.
Can carbon-fiber-reinforced PA6 be used for 3D printing?
Injection molding pellets and printing filaments are two separate systems. For carbon-fiber-reinforced PA filament, see the filament pages.
Related content
- Applications: Robotics | Low-altitude aircraft | 3D printer structural parts | Tools
Request a sample
Tell us the part name, load type (static, impact, fatigue), operating temperature and humidity, flame retardancy requirements, the current material and the expected volume. Phone +86 18822892298 | Email hello@greenpolymer.com
Halogen-free flame-retardant PA66
Glass-fiber-reinforced
PA66 (polyamide 66, nylon 66) melts about 40 °C higher than PA6 (typical value), with better heat resistance and stiffness. With glass fiber and halogen-free flame retardant, it is often used for electrical structural parts that need flame retardancy, heat resistance and insulation, such as connectors, terminal blocks, circuit breaker parts, internal brackets of charging equipment and battery module brackets.
GREENPOLYMER PA66 grades
| Grade | Key features | Suitable parts |
|---|---|---|
| GRN-PA66-E510 | Halogen-free flame-retardant glass-fiber-reinforced PA66 | Connectors, terminal blocks, electrical brackets, internal structures of energy storage and charging equipment |
Recycled-content versions (-R) can be customized.
Key properties, dry
Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS.
| Item | Test standard | GRN-PA66-E510 |
|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183 | 1.45–1.55 g/cm³ |
| Tensile strength | ISO 527 | 140–170 MPa (dry) |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178 | 8–10 GPa |
| Notched impact (23 °C) | ISO 179/1eA | 8–12 kJ/m² (dry) |
| HDT (1.80 MPa) | ISO 75 | 230–250 °C |
| Flammability (design target) | UL 94 | V-0 @ 1.5 mm |
For full properties, see Products. Flammability ratings are design targets, tested to the UL 94 method (to be verified by GREENPOLYMER). Certificate to be uploaded.
PA66 or PA6
| Item | PA66 | PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Melting point | About 260 °C | About 220 °C |
| Heat resistance, stiffness | Better | Good |
| Moisture absorption | Slightly lower | Slightly higher |
| Processing window | Narrower, higher melt temperature | Wider |
| Surface | Moderate | Good |
| Suits | High-temperature, flame-retardant electrical parts | Structural parts, reinforced parts with higher appearance requirements |
The above is a typical comparison of the base resins; refer to the actual TDS. For carbon-fiber-reinforced and non-flame-retardant structural parts, see Reinforced PA6.
Moisture absorption and conditioning
PA66 also absorbs moisture. After absorbing moisture, strength and modulus drop, toughness rises and dimensions grow slightly.
- "Dry" data in a TDS is for freshly molded parts. Use conditioned values for design; conditioned data is available from us on request.
- For electrical parts: moisture lowers the volume resistivity and dielectric strength.
- Allow for swelling from moisture in snap fits and assembly clearances.
Processing advice
Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS.
| Item | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Drying | 80 °C, 4–6 h (desiccant dryer); moisture content 0.05–0.2 % recommended |
| Melt temperature | 280–300 °C; do not exceed the TDS upper limit for flame-retardant grades |
| Mold temperature | 80–110 °C |
| Injection speed | Relatively fast, to reduce fibers on the surface |
| Residence time | As short as possible, to avoid degrading the flame retardant |
| Screw and mold | Wear-resistant screw, hardened mold steel; improve venting and clean mold deposits regularly |
Design points
Fiber orientation sets the strength direction
Place gates to match the main load direction.
Weld lines are weak points
Keep them away from snap-fit roots and loaded areas.
Anisotropic shrinkage
Long thin parts warp easily; mold flow analysis can predict it.
Clearance and creepage distances
Design to the product standard and confirm the material's comparative tracking index (CTI) and glow-wire data.
Keep walls no thinner than the test thickness of the material's flammability rating
See the article How to read a UL 94 flammability rating.
FAQ
Is GRN-PA66-E510 halogen-free flame retardant?
Yes. It uses a halogen-free flame-retardant system. Halogen test reports are provided per grade. Certificate to be uploaded.
Can you run glow-wire and CTI tests?
Yes, to the IEC 60695-2-12/13 and IEC 60112 methods. When a third-party report is needed, we can send samples to a third-party lab on request.
PA66 or PBT?
Both suit flame-retardant electrical parts. PA66 has better heat resistance and toughness but absorbs moisture; PBT absorbs little moisture, is more dimensionally stable and usually reaches a high CTI more easily. See PBT.
Related content
- Applications: New energy and energy storage | ICT and security | Home appliances and cleaning
Contact us
Tell us the part name, applicable standards (such as UL 94 rating and thickness, glow-wire, CTI), operating temperature, whether halogen-free is required and the expected volume. Phone +86 18822892298 | Email hello@greenpolymer.com