PA6/66 HM
Grade
ISO 1874-1 PA6/66
HM = 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.
Values for the HM condition
Other PA6/66 grades and fills
PA6/66 is listed in 11 conditions; see the grade overview at PA6/66.
Compare all 11 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HMThis page 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 | — |
What is PA6/66 HM?
PA6/66 HM is PA6/66 in the HM grade — high PA6-rich or ternary copolymer with Tm 130–170 °C used as adhesive powder, film tie-layer or textile fusible interlining. PA6/66 HM has a yield strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 78% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 300% and the elastic modulus is 0.9 GPa (0.131 Msi). PA6/66 HM 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).
Advantages
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 300%, better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 1.8%, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 7.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 79% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 22 MPa (3.19 ksi), worse than 78% of polymer grades
PA6/66 HM properties
Typical room-temperature values for PA6/66 HM; 27 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PA6/66 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PA6/66 HM 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 HM has a yield strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 78% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 300% and the elastic modulus is 0.9 GPa (0.131 Msi).
Thermal11
PA6/66 HM is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 0.23 W/m·K (0.133 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 65% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 90 µm/m·K (50 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PA6/66 HM is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 94% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PA6/66 HM 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 HM's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability very good (70/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PA6/66 HM
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.
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.
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) | — |
PA6/66 HM — frequently asked
What is PA6/66 HM used for?
PA6/66 HM 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 HM?
PA6/66 HM has a typical yield strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 78% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is PA6/66 HM easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% 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 HM be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). 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 HM?
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 HM 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 HM?
PA6/66 HM is rated for continuous use to about 70°C (158 °F), and briefly to 150°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.