PA6/66
ISO 1874-1 PA6/66
PA6/66 is a copolymer of PA6 and PA66 monomers with a depressed melting point and easier processing than pure PA66, available unfilled and with 15–50 % glass, 20 % carbon fiber, mineral, lubricated, impact-modified, heat-stabilized, UV, V-0, ESD, FDA and high-modulus conditions.
Reference datasheet — PA6/66 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
PA6/66 grades and fills
PA6/66 is supplied in 11 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 11 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low-melt hot-melt adhesive / tie-layer copolymer grade | High PA6-rich or ternary copolymer with Tm 130–170 °C used as adhesive powder, film tie-layer or textile fusible interlining. | 22 | 40 | 300 | 55 Shore D |
Impact-modified / super-tough | Select for snap fits, cold-weather impact and vibration-loaded parts where ductility beats stiffness. | 45 | 48 | 150 | 105 HRR |
Internally lubricated bearing grade | Pick for gears, bushings, slides and cams needing low friction and low wear without external lubrication. | 60 | 65 | 30 | 78 Shore D |
ESD / conductive | For electronics handling trays, fuel-line components and any part needing controlled surface resistivity. | 66 | 70 | 12 | 81 Shore D |
Heat stabilized | Use for long-term hot-air service (engine bay, appliance) where unstabilized nylon would embrittle within weeks. | 72 | 76 | 45 | 80 Shore D |
Mineral / talc filled | Use when isotropic shrinkage, low warpage and a paintable Class-A surface matter more than peak strength. | 85 | 6 | ||
flame retardant, UL 94 V-0 | Required for connectors, breakers and electrical housings needing V-0 at 0.4–1.6 mm; halogen-free (melamine/phosphinate) or brominated versions. | 90 | 4 | 85 Shore D | |
15% short glass fiber reinforced | Moderate stiffness boost with retained toughness and lower warpage than GF30; good for housings and clips. | 115 | 5 | ||
30% short glass fiber reinforced | Workhorse structural grade: highest strength/stiffness-per-cost and HDT above 200 °C for brackets, covers and under-hood parts. | 175 | 3.2 | 95 HRM | |
20% carbon fiber reinforced | Choose for light, stiff, low-warp parts with static-dissipative surface and improved wear over glass. | 190 | 2.5 | ||
50% short glass fiber reinforced | Maximum stiffness/creep resistance for metal-replacement load-bearing parts; brittle and abrasive to tooling. | 210 | 2.5 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PA6/66 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FDA | FDA / food-contact & potable-water compliant | Certification |
UV | UV / weather stabilized | Grade option |
NATDefault | Unfilled / Natural | Standard supply |
What is PA6/66?
PA6/66 is a copolymer of PA6 and PA66 monomers with a depressed melting point and easier processing than pure PA66, available unfilled and with 15–50 % glass, 20 % carbon fiber, mineral, lubricated, impact-modified, heat-stabilized, UV, V-0, ESD, FDA and high-modulus conditions. Engineers select it for fast-cycle, thin-wall injection molding and good toughness at 76 MPa tensile strength, 60 % elongation and 2.8 GPa modulus, in molded connectors, clips and housings. Maximum service temperature is about 90 °C and the polymer absorbs moisture, so dimensions and stiffness drift with conditioning; PA66 or PA6T serves where higher heat is required. PA6/66 has a density of 1.13 g/cm³ (0.0408 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 50°C (122 °F). PA6/66 has a yield strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) — stronger than 82% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 2.8 GPa (0.406 Msi).
What is PA6/66 used for?
- automotive connectors
- cable ties
- power tool housings
- fasteners
Advantages
- Readily welded — 78/100, better than 84% of polymer grades
- High strength — 72 MPa (10.4 ksi), better than 82% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 1.8%, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 60/100, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 7.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 79% of polymer grades
PA6/66 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PA6/66 has a density of 1.13 g/cm³ (0.0408 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 50°C (122 °F).
Mechanical14
PA6/66 has a yield strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) — stronger than 82% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 2.8 GPa (0.406 Msi).
Thermal11
PA6/66 is rated for continuous service to 90°C (194 °F). It conducts heat at 0.25 W/m·K (0.144 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 72% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 90 µm/m·K (50 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PA6/66 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 89% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PA6/66 takes about 122 MJ of energy and emits 7.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 74% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PA6/66's machinability is good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades); weldability very good (78/100); formability good (60/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PA6/66 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PA6/66
Is PA6/66 easy to machine?
Machines like PA6/PA66 — sharp positive-rake tools, high speed with light feed and air/mist cooling; expect gummy chips, springback and dimensional drift as the part absorbs moisture after cutting.
Can PA6/66 be welded?
Excellent for hot-plate, ultrasonic, vibration, IR and laser welding; the depressed melting point makes it a preferred tie-layer/adhesive to PA6 and PA66 substrates, but material must be dry before welding.
Can PA6/66 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.10% moisture (80 °C, 4 h desiccant) before molding; melt 240–280 °C, mold 40–90 °C, shrinkage 1.0–1.8% unfilled and anisotropic when glass filled; low Tm gives short cycles and easy thin-wall fill.
PA6/66 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 |
|---|---|---|
| caprolactam (PA6 unit)ε-caprolactam derived amide repeat unit; ratio sets Tm and crystallinity | 70 – 90 | 82 |
| heat/UV stabilizers, lubricants, nucleanadditive package, grade dependent | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| glass fiber0 for the default natural grade; 15/30/50 % in reinforced variants | 0 – 50 | 0 |
| hexamethylenediamine-adipic acid salt (PAH salt comonomer | ≥ 10 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PA6/66?
Readily dyed, printed and paintable after flame/plasma or primer treatment; can be metallized/electroless plated with etching; condition finished parts in warm water to reach equilibrium moisture and final toughness.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PA6/66 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- 1874-1 PA6/66
- Also called
- Nylon 6/66
How much does PA6/66 cost?
PA6/66 is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PA6/66 — frequently asked
What is PA6/66 used for?
PA6/66 is typically used for automotive connectors, cable ties, power tool housings and fasteners. In short: fastest-cycling nylon copolymer; low-melt PA6/PA66 tie layer; easier-flowing PA66 substitute.
What is the yield strength of PA6/66?
PA6/66 has a typical yield strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) — stronger than 82% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is PA6/66 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades). Machines like PA6/PA66 — sharp positive-rake tools, high speed with light feed and air/mist cooling; expect gummy chips, springback and dimensional drift as the part absorbs moisture after cutting.
Can PA6/66 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (78/100). Excellent for hot-plate, ultrasonic, vibration, IR and laser welding; the depressed melting point makes it a preferred tie-layer/adhesive to PA6 and PA66 substrates, but material must be dry before welding.
What surface finishes work on PA6/66?
Readily dyed, printed and paintable after flame/plasma or primer treatment; can be metallized/electroless plated with etching; condition finished parts in warm water to reach equilibrium moisture and final toughness.
Can PA6/66 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.10% moisture (80 °C, 4 h desiccant) before molding; melt 240–280 °C, mold 40–90 °C, shrinkage 1.0–1.8% unfilled and anisotropic when glass filled; low Tm gives short cycles and easy thin-wall fill.
What is the maximum service temperature of PA6/66?
PA6/66 is rated for continuous use to about 90°C (194 °F), and briefly to 150°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PA6/66 cost?
PA6/66 is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ISO 1874-1 Plastics — Polyamide (PA) moulding and extrusion materials — Designation system — ISO (2010)
- ISO 527-2 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 test methods for plastics — ISO (2019)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PA6/66 copolymer grades — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- Ultramid C (PA6/66) product line datasheets — BASF (2023)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- GB/T 21460 / GB/T 36260 — SAC (2018)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.