PA6T
PA6T is a semi-aromatic polyamide based on terephthalic acid (PA6T, JIS K6920 family), commonly copolymerized as 6T/6I or 6T/M-5T and offered unfilled, with 15–50 % glass, 30 % carbon fiber, mineral, lubricated, heat-stabilized, impact-modified, V-0, UV and ESD conditions.
Reference datasheet — PA6T 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.
Values for the UF condition
PA6T grades and fills
PA6T is supplied in 14 conditions, soft to hard. UF is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 14 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modified / toughened | For snap fits, clips and cold-impact duty where the standard rigid PPA is too brittle. | 62 | 70 | 45 | 74 Shore D |
PA6T/M-5T copolymer | Copolymer using 2-methylpentamethylenediamine to depress Tm for easier processing while keeping high Tg and reflow resistance. | 90 | 95 | 25 | 85 Shore D |
PA6T/6I copolymer | Copolymer chemistry with isophthalic units for higher Tg, better surface gloss and lower moisture pickup; slower crystallization. | 92 | 95 | 12 | 86 Shore D |
UFDefault Unfilled / natural | Baseline unreinforced PPA for tough thin-wall parts, film/monofilament and as a base for compounding. | 100 | 20 | 95 HRM | |
MF/GF-MF | Pick for flat, dimensionally isotropic parts and better surface appearance where peak strength is not required. | 115 | 115 | 2.5 | 88 Shore D |
15 % glass-fiber reinforced | Light reinforcement when some toughness and low warpage matter more than maximum stiffness. | 145 | 4 | ||
Internally lubricated (PTFE / silicone / graphite), often GF filled | Bearing/wear grade for hot dry-running bushings, gears and sliding contacts. | 155 | 155 | 2 | 87 Shore D |
ESD / conductive | For high-temperature ESD-safe fixtures, fuel-system parts and IC handling hardware. | 160 | 160 | 2 | 88 Shore D |
halogen-free flame-retardant, GF reinforced | Required for connectors/relay housings needing UL 94 V-0 at thin wall plus glow-wire performance. | 170 | 1.8 | ||
Heat-stabilized | Use for continuous 180–200 °C air aging (charge-air ducts, motor parts) where standard grades embrittle. | 195 | 195 | 2.4 | 90 Shore D |
30–33 % glass-fiber reinforced | The standard PPA grade for SMT connectors and under-hood parts needing lead-free reflow survival. | 200 | 2.5 | 105 HRM | |
45 % glass-fiber reinforced | High-stiffness structural grade for metal replacement in hot, loaded brackets and housings. | 225 | 2 | ||
50 % glass-fiber reinforced | Maximum stiffness/creep resistance grade; most abrasive to tooling and hardest to fill in thin walls. | 240 | 1.8 | ||
30 % carbon-fiber reinforced | Choose for highest specific stiffness, low warpage and static-dissipative surface at reduced weight vs glass. | 245 | 1.6 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PA6T is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
UV | UV-stabilized / weatherable | Grade option |
What is PA6T?
PA6T is a semi-aromatic polyamide based on terephthalic acid (PA6T, JIS K6920 family), commonly copolymerized as 6T/6I or 6T/M-5T and offered unfilled, with 15–50 % glass, 30 % carbon fiber, mineral, lubricated, heat-stabilized, impact-modified, V-0, UV and ESD conditions. It gives higher heat resistance and better dimensional stability than aliphatic nylons — 100 MPa tensile strength, 3.2 GPa modulus, 140 °C maximum service temperature — which makes it the standard choice for reflow-solder-compatible connectors and LED optics. Processing is demanding (315–345 °C melt, 130–160 °C mold, tight drying) and filled grades are abrasive on tooling; PA9T or PPA are the nearest alternatives. PA6T has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ (0.043 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 125°C (257 °F). PA6T has a yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) — stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi).
What is PA6T used for?
- SMT electrical connectors
- LED reflectors
- high-heat automotive components
Advantages
- High strength — 95 MPa (13.8 ksi), better than 93% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi), better than 77% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 140°C (284 °F), better than 76% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 85% of polymer grades
PA6T properties
Typical room-temperature values for PA6T-UF; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PA6T has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ (0.043 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 125°C (257 °F).
Mechanical16
PA6T has a yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) — stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi).
Thermal11
PA6T is rated for continuous service to 140°C (284 °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 70 µm/m·K (38.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PA6T is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 28 kV/mm (711.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (76/100), worse than 64% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PA6T takes about 150 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 84% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
PA6T's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability good (60/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. PA6T is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PA6T
Is PA6T easy to machine?
Machines like a rigid nylon with sharp carbide tools and air/mist cooling; glass- and carbon-filled grades are abrasive, so use polycrystalline-diamond or coated carbide and expect fast edge wear.
Can PA6T be welded?
Ultrasonic, vibration, hot-plate and laser welding all work on unfilled and GF grades; solvent bonding is impractical, and heat-cured epoxy or hot-melt PA adhesives are used with plasma/flame surface activation.
Can PA6T be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 315–345 °C melt with 130–160 °C mold and hot-runner or well-vented tooling; resin must be dried to <0.05 % moisture (80–100 °C, 4–8 h in a desiccant dryer) and residence time kept short to avoid gas and splay.
PA6T 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 |
|---|---|---|
| hexamethylenediamine (1,6-diaminohexane)diamine component, ~50 mol% of repeat units | ≈ 50 | 50 |
| terephthalic acid (6T) unitaromatic diacid giving high Tm/Tg; ≥50 mol% of the diacid fraction in commercial copolymers | 25 – 50 | 33 |
| adipic acid (66) or isophthalic acid (6Icomonomer used to lower Tm below decomposition; defines 6T/66 vs 6T/6I | 0 – 25 | 17 |
| glass fiber0 in default unfilled grade; 15–50 wt% in reinforced grades | ≈ 0 | 0 |
| heat stabilizer / lubricant / nucleant /typical additive package | 0.2 – 2 | 1 |
What surface finishes work on PA6T?
Accepts laser marking, pad printing and painting after plasma/primer treatment; LDS and plateable variants exist, and glass-fiber read-through can be masked with mineral hybrids or textured tool surfaces.
How much does PA6T cost?
PA6T is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
PA6T — frequently asked
What is PA6T used for?
PA6T is typically used for SMT electrical connectors, LED reflectors and high-heat automotive components. In short: reflow-capable high-heat nylon; most dimensionally stable polyamide; semi-aromatic connector resin.
What is the yield strength of PA6T?
PA6T has a typical yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) — stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 14 listed tempers.
Is PA6T easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines like a rigid nylon with sharp carbide tools and air/mist cooling; glass- and carbon-filled grades are abrasive, so use polycrystalline-diamond or coated carbide and expect fast edge wear.
Can PA6T be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Ultrasonic, vibration, hot-plate and laser welding all work on unfilled and GF grades; solvent bonding is impractical, and heat-cured epoxy or hot-melt PA adhesives are used with plasma/flame surface activation.
What surface finishes work on PA6T?
Accepts laser marking, pad printing and painting after plasma/primer treatment; LDS and plateable variants exist, and glass-fiber read-through can be masked with mineral hybrids or textured tool surfaces.
Can PA6T be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 315–345 °C melt with 130–160 °C mold and hot-runner or well-vented tooling; resin must be dried to <0.05 % moisture (80–100 °C, 4–8 h in a desiccant dryer) and residence time kept short to avoid gas and splay.
What is the maximum service temperature of PA6T?
PA6T is rated for continuous use to about 140°C (284 °F), and briefly to 210°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PA6T UF and PA6T HS?
UF is the default condition — baseline unreinforced PPA for tough thin-wall parts, film/monofilament and as a base for compounding. HS: use for continuous 180–200 °C air aging (charge-air ducts, motor parts) where standard grades embrittle. Yield strength is 95 MPa in UF versus 195 MPa in HS.
How much does PA6T cost?
PA6T is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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 16396-1 Plastics — Polyamide (PA) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2022)
- JIS K 6920 Plastics — Polyamide (PA) moulding and extrusion materials — JSA (2018)
- Amodel PPA product and processing guides — Solvay/Syensqo (2023)
- Zytel HTN high-performance polyamide datasheets — DuPont/Celanese (2023)
- Grivory HT / Grilamid HT product range — EMS-Grivory (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PPA (PA6T/66, PA6T/6I) datasets — CWFG (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
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.