PA46 IM (Impact-modified)
Grade
Rubber-toughened PA46 for snap fits and parts needing cold impact resistance at the cost of stiffness and heat distortion.
Values for the IM condition
Other PA46 grades and fills
PA46 is listed in 13 conditions; see the grade overview at PA46.
Compare all 13 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unfilled, conditioned (50% RH / equilibrium moisture) | Neat PA46 after moisture conditioning — the realistic in-service state for unsealed parts; stiffness drops sharply, toughness rises. | 50 | 65 | 90 | 76 Shore D |
IMThis page Impact-modified | Rubber-toughened PA46 for snap fits and parts needing cold impact resistance at the cost of stiffness and heat distortion. | 60 | 65 | 60 | 75 Shore D |
Internally lubricated bearing grade (PTFE / silicone / graphite) | For unlubricated gears, bushings and sliders needing low friction and low wear at elevated temperature. | 85 | 85 | 20 | 81 Shore D |
UNFILLED-DRYDefault Unfilled, dry as molded (DAM) | Baseline neat PA46 measured dry as molded — use for stiffness/strength design of parts kept dry or sealed. | 95 | 100 | 40 | 83 Shore D |
30% glass-fiber reinforced, conditioned | Moisture-equilibrated GF30 data — use these numbers for real service loads on unsealed automotive/electrical parts. | — | 130 | 5 | 85 HRM |
15% glass-fiber reinforced | Light reinforcement when some ductility and weld-line strength must be kept but creep resistance above 100 °C is needed. | — | 150 | 6 | — |
Flame retardant, halogen-free, UL 94 V-0 | Choose for SMT-compatible electrical parts (connectors, breakers, coil bobbins) needing V-0 at 0.4–0.8 mm plus high CTI. | — | 155 | 2.5 | 88 Shore D |
50% glass-fiber reinforced, conditioned | Moisture-equilibrated GF50 properties for dimensioning highly loaded parts exposed to ambient humidity. | — | 175 | 4 | 92 HRM |
30% glass-fiber reinforced, dry as molded | The workhorse PA46 compound (e.g. Stanyl TW200F6) — pick for hot, highly loaded gears, housings and under-hood structural parts. | — | 200 | 3.5 | 95 HRM |
Heat-stabilized | Use where parts see 150–200 °C air for thousands of hours (turbo ducts, EGR, engine covers) and must retain elongation. | — | 200 | 3 | 90 Shore D |
40% glass-fiber reinforced | Intermediate step to maximum stiffness where GF50 flow or surface quality is unacceptable. | — | 225 | 3 | — |
50% glass-fiber reinforced, dry as molded | Maximum stiffness/creep resistance PA46 (e.g. Stanyl TW200F10) for metal-replacement brackets and gear housings. | — | 230 | 2.8 | 100 HRM |
Carbon-fiber reinforced | Niche compound for light, very stiff and partly dissipative parts; higher cost and anisotropic warpage than GF. | — | 230 | 2 | 90 Shore D |
What is PA46 IM?
PA46 IM is PA46 in the IM grade — rubber-toughened PA46 for snap fits and parts needing cold impact resistance at the cost of stiffness and heat distortion. PA46 IM has a yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 65 MPa (9.43 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 2.2 GPa (0.319 Msi). PA46 IM has a density of 1.12 g/cm³ (0.0405 lb/in³), lighter than 64% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 78°C (172 °F). UNFILLED-DRY is the default condition FabDigit quotes; IM is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 0.28 W/m·K (0.162 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 2%, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 68/100, worse than 85% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 7.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 79% of polymer grades
PA46 IM properties
Typical room-temperature values for PA46 IM; 27 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PA46 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PA46 IM has a density of 1.12 g/cm³ (0.0405 lb/in³), lighter than 64% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 78°C (172 °F).
Mechanical13
PA46 IM has a yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 65 MPa (9.43 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 2.2 GPa (0.319 Msi).
Thermal11
PA46 IM is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 0.28 W/m·K (0.162 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 85 µm/m·K (47.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PA46 IM is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 28 kV/mm (711.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (68/100), worse than 85% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PA46 IM takes about 130 MJ of energy and emits 7.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 77% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
PA46 IM's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability fair (45/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PA46 IM
Is PA46 easy to machine?
Machines like a tough nylon with sharp positive-rake tools and good chip clearance; glass-filled grades are abrasive and want carbide or PCD, and stock should be dried/stress-relieved before tight-tolerance work.
Can PA46 be welded?
Ultrasonic, vibration, hot-plate and laser welding all work if the parts are dry as molded; residual moisture causes foaming and weak joints.
Can PA46 be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 300–320 °C melt with 100–120 °C mold and fast fill — PA46 crystallizes extremely fast, so gates, runners and hot-tip temperature control are critical; dry to <0.10% moisture before processing.
What surface finishes work on PA46?
Accepts painting, hot stamping and laser marking after suitable surface prep; can be electroless-plated only with etch systems developed for polyamide, and dimensions must be checked after moisture conditioning.
PA46 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| glass fiber0 in default unfilled grade; 15/30/40/50 wt% in reinforced compounds | 0 – 50 | 0 |
| heat stabilizer / antioxidant packageCu-halide or organic system depending on grade | 0.2 – 1.5 | 0.5 |
| lubricant / mold release | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| poly(tetramethylene adipamide) repeat ununfilled base resin; filled grades replace filler wt% of this | balance | — |
PA46 IM — frequently asked
What is PA46 IM used for?
PA46 IM is typically used for engine timing chain tensioners, high-temperature gears, electrical connectors near heat sources and bearing cages. In short: highest-melting common nylon; fast-crystallizing thin-wall moulding; fatigue-resistant gear polyamide.
What is the yield strength of PA46 IM?
PA46 IM has a typical yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 65 MPa (9.43 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 13 listed tempers.
Is PA46 IM easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines like a tough nylon with sharp positive-rake tools and good chip clearance; glass-filled grades are abrasive and want carbide or PCD, and stock should be dried/stress-relieved before tight-tolerance work.
Can PA46 IM be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Ultrasonic, vibration, hot-plate and laser welding all work if the parts are dry as molded; residual moisture causes foaming and weak joints.
What surface finishes work on PA46 IM?
Accepts painting, hot stamping and laser marking after suitable surface prep; can be electroless-plated only with etch systems developed for polyamide, and dimensions must be checked after moisture conditioning.
Can PA46 IM be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 300–320 °C melt with 100–120 °C mold and fast fill — PA46 crystallizes extremely fast, so gates, runners and hot-tip temperature control are critical; dry to <0.10% moisture before processing.
What is the maximum service temperature of PA46 IM?
PA46 IM is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F), and briefly to 230°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PA46 UNFILLED-DRY and PA46 IM?
UNFILLED-DRY is the default condition — baseline neat PA46 measured dry as molded — use for stiffness/strength design of parts kept dry or sealed. IM: rubber-toughened PA46 for snap fits and parts needing cold impact resistance at the cost of stiffness and heat distortion. Yield strength is 95 MPa in UNFILLED-DRY versus 60 MPa in IM.
Sources
- Stanyl PA46 product and processing datasheets (TW200F6/F10, TE200) — DSM Engineering Materials / Envalior (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database – PA46 injection molding grades — CAMPUS / CWFG (2023)
- ISO 527, ISO 178, ISO 75, ISO 180, ISO 62 test methods — ISO (2019)
- Engineering Plastics – Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 (polyamide chapter) — ASM International (1988)
- UL Yellow Card / UL 94 and RTI listings for PA46 compounds — UL Solutions (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.