Black White Blue Polyamide PA6 Nylon Sheet
Core performance parameters
Mechanical Properties (High Toughness + Wear Resistance)
The core competitiveness of PA6 sheet lies in its "strength-toughness balance" mechanical properties:
Tensile Strength: Unreinforced, approximately 50-70 MPa (nearly double that of common plastics like PP/PE); glass fiber (GF) reinforcement reaches 100-180 MPa (e.g., 30% GF-PA6 sheet has a tensile strength of approximately 150 MPa);
Flexural Strength: Unreinforced, approximately 70-90 MPa; reinforced (e.g., 30% GF) reaches 200-250 MPa (nearly 30% that of mild steel);
Impact Strength (Charpy Notched Beam): Unreinforced, approximately 5-10 kJ/m² (significantly higher than POM/PET); glass fiber reinforcement increases this to 15-30 kJ/m² (doubling the impact resistance), making it the most drop-resistant and fracture-resistant engineering plastic. Typical examples:
Elongation at break: Unreinforced: Approximately 30-50% (high toughness, less prone to brittle fracture under stress), reduced to 5-15% after reinforcement (increased rigidity but slightly reduced toughness).
Typical applications: PA6 sheet is used in components subject to vibration, impact, or frequent assembly and disassembly (such as gear guards and equipment brackets). It resists cracking even under external impact (more drop-resistant than POM/PET).
Thermal Properties
Melting Point: 215-225°C (same as PA6 resin);
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT): Unreinforced: Approximately 50-60°C (under 0.45 MPa load), short-term resistance to 80-100°C; glass fiber reinforced (e.g., 30% GF) increases the HDT to 180-200°C (long-term operating temperature up to 120-150°C);
Long-term Operating Temperature: Unreinforced: ≤60°C; reinforced: ≤120°C (continuous use), short-term resistance to 150°C (e.g., welding, hot assembly).
Note: PA6 is not heat-resistant (it will soften and deform above 60°C when unreinforced). For high-temperature environments, glass fiber/mineral-filled PA6 should be used, or high-temperature-resistant nylon (e.g., PA46/PA6T) should be used.
Chemical Properties
Chemical Corrosion Resistance: Stable to weak acids (e.g., dilute acetic acid and carbonic acid), weak bases (e.g., soapy water), and saline solutions (e.g., sodium chloride); resistant to most non-oxidizing organic solvents (e.g., ethanol, gasoline, and lubricating oils); however, susceptible to strong acids (e.g., concentrated sulfuric acid and nitric acid), strong bases (e.g., long-term immersion in concentrated sodium hydroxide), ketones (e.g., acetone), and esters (e.g., ethyl acetate).
Oil Resistance: Excellent resistance to mineral oil, gear oil, and hydraulic oil (volume change <5%), making it suitable for lubricated environments (e.g., gearbox covers).
Special Advantages: PA6 sheet maintains a certain level of strength in humid environments (impact strength actually increases slightly after water absorption), but dimensional stability decreases (pre-drying is required).
Electrical Properties
Insulation: Volume resistivity > 10¹³ Ω·cm, dielectric strength 15-20 kV/mm, making it an excellent insulating material (suitable for electronic device enclosures);
Dielectric constant: 3.0-4.0 (varies slightly with frequency), making it suitable for protecting low-frequency electronic components.
Processability
Machinability: Suitable for cutting (CNC/tool), drilling, tapping, bending (preheating required), and hot riveting. Compatible with laser cutting (accuracy ±0.1mm) and CNC milling (surface roughness Ra ≤ 3.2 μm).
Surface Treatment: Secondary processing is possible through spray coating (such as antistatic coating), electroplating (such as nickel/chromium coating to improve wear resistance and decorative properties), and flame treatment (to enhance ink adhesion).
Processing Technology and Precautions
Conventional Processing Methods
- Cutting: Laser cutting is recommended (high precision, burr-free edges, suitable for complex shapes) or circular saw/knife cutting is recommended (for standard sheet materials, edges require grinding).
- Drilling/Tapping: Use a high-speed steel or carbide drill bit (the speed should not be too high to prevent heat buildup and melting). Chamfer the hole edges to prevent stress cracking.
- Bending: Soften the material by heating (preheating to 80-100°C) before bending to avoid brittle cracking at room temperature. The recommended bending radius is ≥ 5 times the sheet thickness.
- Hot Riveting/Welding: Use a heat gun or ultrasonic welding to join PA6 components (suitable for sealing or structural assembly).
Key Considerations
- Pre-drying: PA6 is highly hygroscopic and must be dried before processing (unreinforced PA6 drying conditions: 80-90°C oven for 2-4 hours; reinforced PA6: 100-110°C for 3-5 hours). Otherwise, moisture absorption can cause surface bubbles, decreased strength, or dimensional deformation.
- Heat Resistance Limit: The long-term operating temperature of unreinforced PA6 should be ≤ 60°C (for high-temperature environments, use 30% GF-PA6 or higher filler ratios).
- Stress Release: After processing (such as cutting or bending), it is recommended to allow the material to rest for at least 24 hours to allow internal stress to naturally release (to prevent cracking during subsequent use).
