Polyamide 6 CNC Parts PA6 Nylon Parts Machining
Core Properties of PA6 Nylon Parts
Mechanical Properties
• High Impact Resistance: The notched impact strength of a simply supported beam is typically 5-15 kJ/m² (standard grade). Toughening modifications (such as the addition of POE or EPDM elastomers) can increase this to 20-30 kJ/m² (still >10 kJ/m² at -40°C). It can withstand moderate impacts (such as dropped tools and minor collisions) without cracking, and its toughness is significantly superior to PA66 and POM.
• Medium Rigidity: Flexural strength of 60-80 MPa, elastic modulus of 2000-2500 MPa (lower than PA66's 3000-3500 MPa, but higher than PP's 1800-2200 MPa), making it suitable for bearing small to medium static loads (such as brackets and housings). • Fatigue Resistance: Under cyclic stress of 20-30 MPa and a frequency of 10 Hz, fatigue life is > 1×10⁶ cycles (resistant to deformation under long-term dynamic loads, such as in connectors with repeated bending).
Wear Resistance and Self-Lubrication
• Low Coefficient of Friction: Under dry friction, the coefficient of friction against steel is only 0.15-0.3 (nearly half that of PTFE, but with greater load-bearing capacity). It exhibits significant self-lubricating properties (allowing long-term operation without lubrication).
• High Wear Resistance: Akron wear value ≤ 0.1-0.3 cm³/1.61 km (standard grade), which is 1/50-1/20 that of steel. Under continuous friction, its service life can reach 3-5 times that of metal parts (such as gears and bearings).
Thermal Properties
• Long-term operating temperature: -40°C to +80°C (short-term tolerance to 100°C), heat deflection temperature (HDT, 1.82 MPa load) of 50-60°C, melting point approximately 220°C (although workpieces typically do not involve a molten state).
• Hygroscopicity: Undried PA6 Nylon can absorb up to 3%-5% water (equilibrium water absorption approximately 2.5%). After absorbing water, the heat deflection temperature drops to 40-50°C, and the dimensional expansion rate increases by 0.2%-0.5%. Thorough drying is required before processing.
Chemical Properties
• Chemical Corrosion Resistance: Stable to weak acids (e.g., carbonic acid, citric acid), weak bases (e.g., soapy water), and some organic solvents (e.g., ethanol, acetone, gasoline) (no significant swelling at concentrations <30%), but susceptible to strong acids (concentrated sulfuric acid/nitric acid), strong bases (NaOH >10%), and halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g., carbon tetrachloride).
• Excellent Oil Resistance: Excellent tolerance to mineral oil, lubricating oil, and hydraulic oil (volume change <3%), making it suitable for oily environments (e.g., mechanical transmission components).
Electrical Properties
• Insulation Properties: Volume resistivity ≥ 10¹⁴ Ω·cm, dielectric strength 20-30 kV/mm, dielectric constant 3.5-4.0 (1 kHz), suitable for low-voltage electrical insulation components (e.g., switch housings, junction boxes), but insulation properties may degrade in high humidity environments.
6. Processability (Suitable for Injection Molding/CNC)
• Ease of Processing: Uniform material (without hard fillers such as glass fiber), low tool wear (20%-30% lower than POM), compatible with injection molding, turning, milling, drilling, and other processes (surface roughness Ra can reach 0.8-1.6 μm).
• Strict Hygroscopicity: Must be thoroughly dried before processing (moisture content > 0.2% can cause surface bubbles, silver streaks, and dimensional deviations). Drying at 80-100°C for 4-8 hours is recommended (or in a dehumidifier with a dew point below -20°C).
• Controllable Shrinkage: Molding shrinkage is 1.0-1.5%, and dimensional stability is superior to most general-purpose plastics.