Materials / Compare

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic Nylon PA66

Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic Nylon PA66 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic Nylon PA66Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
MechanicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA66
Yield strength45MPa185MPa21.89x stronger
Ultimate tensile strengthnot stated (yield given)not stated (yield given)
Flexural strength65MPa1not sourced
Elongation at break10%130%23x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPa13GPa230% stiffer
Density1,040kg/m³11,130kg/m³2
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg75.2kN·m/kg1.74x higher
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg2.65MN·m/kg20% higher
Poisson's ratio0.393base material0.44
Shear modulus0.827GPa1.07GPa30% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.48GPa5GPa43% higher
Speed of sound1,487m/s1,629m/s10% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA66
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA66
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA66
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·K10.33W/m·K21.94x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansionrange80–110µm/m·K1longitudinal98µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth3% less490µm growth
Specific heatnot sourced1,700J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.172mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m57.2W/m2.68x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourcedDSC260°C2
Max service temperatureHDT 1.8 MPa94°C1101°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA66
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA66
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: INEOS Styrolution, BASF, Covestro
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)
Plastic Nylon PA66
BASF Ultramid A3K (PA66, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods)
  1. 1
    Terluran GP-22 (ABS) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Flexural strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Elongation at break: nominal strain at break, 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Density: typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Thermal expansion: rangePlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)
  2. 2
    Ultramid A3K Product InformationBASFPlastic Nylon PA66 · Yield strength: typical, dryPlastic Nylon PA66 · Elongation at break: nominal strain at break, dryPlastic Nylon PA66 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, dryPlastic Nylon PA66 · Density: typicalPlastic Nylon PA66 · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic Nylon PA66 · Thermal expansion: longitudinal, 23-55 °CPlastic Nylon PA66 · Specific heat: typicalPlastic Nylon PA66 · Melting point: DSCPlastic Nylon PA66 · Max service temperature: IEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
  3. 3
    Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Poisson's ratio: typical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
  4. 4
    Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroPlastic Nylon PA66 · Poisson's ratio: base material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than Plastic Nylon PA66?

Plastic Nylon PA66 is stronger: its yield strength is 85 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (1.89x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA66?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 1,130 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon PA66.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA66?

Plastic Nylon PA66 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA66 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA66?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Nylon PA66
Stiff rod or tie (tension)20% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)5% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plateabout equalabout equal
Strong rod or tie1.74x heavierlighter
Strong beam41% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate26% heavierlighter

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 is more ductile, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA66?

Plastic Nylon PA66 stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 10% for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic Nylon PA66?

Plastic Nylon PA66 conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 98 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.

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