PA6 / PA66
ChemistryNylon is specified as PA6 / PA66. Density band ~1.14 g/cm³.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength70
Heat resistance46
Fire performance26
Insulation30
Workability84
Circularity32
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Nylon non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: combustible, melt-drip. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Nylon insulate?
Thermal mark 30/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: low.
What is the density band?
~1.14 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: DuPont 1935–38 (United States).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 32/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
PA6 ~220 °C; PA66 ~260 °C
heat 46 · fire 26
What holds Nylon together is not the nickname. Formula PA6 / PA66, density ~1.14 g/cm³.
Meters are atlas-relative. Grades are the SKUs buyers write.
Phases
Microstructure
OrderProcessing sets grain, crystallinity or fibre orientation — the reason two lots of Nylon can test differently.
Interfaces
SurfacesCoatings, oxide films, sizings or paper faces often decide weather and fire behaviour more than the bulk brochure.
Defects
FlawsInclusions, voids, knots, pinholes or residual stress start the failures that mill certificates do not list.
Grades
VariantsNylon is a family. Grade names below are the ones buyers actually write on RFQs.
Ageing
TimeMoisture, UV, creep, hydrogen or carbonation shift properties in service. Design to the aged state.
Relative meters
Strength70
Strength is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Heat envelope46
Heat envelope is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Fire behaviour26
Fire behaviour is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Insulation30
Insulation is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Workability84
Workability is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Circularity32
Circularity is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Grades
PA6 apparel
Textured filament.Textured filament.
PA66 HT
Airbags, cord.Airbags, cord.
BCF carpet
Bulked continuous filament.Bulked continuous filament.
Regenerated PA6
Net-to-yarn.Net-to-yarn.
Glass-filled PA
Engineering resin, not fibre.Engineering resin, not fibre.
Bonds
Primary bonding
Nylon holds together by covalent chain chemistry.
Secondary forces
Hydrogen bonds, van der Waals stacks or grain-boundary cohesion set toughness and moisture uptake.
Composites & fills
Fillers, fibres, plasticisers or aggregates are part of the real product, not impurities.
Environment film
Oxides, chars, sizings or paints are the layer the world actually meets.
Change the grade, the coating or the moisture and you have a different material with the same English name.
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