Polyamide 6 (PA6): Polyamide6 or Nylon6, also known as polyamide 6, i.e. polycaprolactam, is obtained from the open-ring condensation of caprolactam.

It is a translucent or opaque opalescent resin with superior mechanical properties, stiffness, toughness, abrasion resistance and mechanical shock absorption, good insulation and chemical resistance. It is widely used in many fields such as automotive parts, electronic and electrical components.

Nylon 66 (PA66): Polyamide 66 or Nylon6, referred to as PA66 or nylon 66, also known as polyamide 66.

It is used in the manufacture of parts for mechanical, automotive, chemical and electrical devices such as gears, rollers, pulleys, rollers, impellers in pump bodies, fan blades, high pressure sealing enclosures, valve seats, gaskets, bushings, various handles, support frames, inner layers of electrical wire packages, etc.

Polyamide 11 (PA11): Polyamide 11 or Nylon 11 for short, also known as polyamide 11.

It is a white translucent body. Its outstanding features are low melting temperature and wide processing temperature, low water absorption, good low temperature performance, good flexibility which can be maintained at -40℃～120℃. It is mainly used for automotive oil pipes, brake system hoses, fibre optic cable wrapping, packaging films, daily necessities, etc.

Polyamide 12 (PA12): Polyamide12 or Nylon12, also known as Polyamide 12, is a polyamide.

It is similar to nylon 11, but its density, melting point and water absorption are lower than those of nylon 11. It has the properties of a combination of polyamide and polyolefin due to its high content of toughening agents. Its outstanding features are its high decomposition temperature, low water absorption and excellent low temperature resistance. It is mainly used for automotive fuel lines, instrument panels, gas pedals, brake hoses, anechoic parts of electronic appliances and cable sheathing.

Polyamide 46 (PA46): Polyamide 46 or Nylon 46, also known as polyamide 46.

Its outstanding features are its high crystallinity, high temperature resistance, high rigidity and high strength. It is mainly used for automotive engines and peripheral parts, such as cylinder heads, cylinder bases, oil seal covers and transmissions. It is used in the electrical industry for contactors, sockets, coil bobbins, switches and other areas where high heat resistance and fatigue strength are required.

Polyamide 610 (PA610): Polyamide 610 or Nylon 610, also known as polyamide 610.

It is translucent and milky white in colour and its strength is between that of nylon 6 and nylon 66. Small specific gravity, low crystallinity, less influence on water and humidity, good dimensional stability, can be self-extinguishing. It is used for precision plastic fittings, oil pipes, containers, ropes, conveyor belts, bearings, gaskets, insulation materials in electrical and electronic applications and instrument housings.

Polyamide 612 (PA612): Polyamide 612 or Nylon 612 for short, also known as polyamide 612.

Nylon 612 is a tougher nylon with a smaller density than Nylon 610, very low water absorption, excellent abrasion resistance, smaller molding shrinkage, excellent hydrolysis resistance and dimensional stability. The most important use is to make high-grade toothbrush monofilaments and cable coverings.

Nylon 1010 (PA1010): Polyamide 1010 or Nylon1010 for short, also known as polyamide 1010, i.e. poly(sunflower diacyl koi diamine).

Nylon 1010 is made from castor oil as the basic raw material and was first developed and industrialised in China by the Shanghai Celluloid Factory. Its most important feature is that it is highly ductile and can be drawn to 3 to 4 times its original length, and has high tensile strength, excellent impact and low-temperature properties, and is not brittle at -60°C. It also has excellent abrasion resistance, ultra-high toughness and good oil resistance, and is widely used in aerospace, cables, optical cables, metal or cable surface coating, etc.

Semi-aromatic nylon (transparent nylon): Semi-aromatic nylon, also known as amorphous polyamide, is chemically known as: poly (terephthaloyltrimethylhexanediamine).

It belongs to the aromatic group and is called semi-aromatic nylon when one of the amines or acids of the nylon raw material contains a benzene ring, and fully aromatic nylon when both raw materials contain benzene rings. However, in practice, the processing temperature of fully aromatic nylons is too high to be suitable for operation, so semi-aromatic nylons are generally marketed as the main type.

Semi-aromatic nylons have been used in many foreign countries, especially in the field of high performance engineering plastics. Semi-aromatic nylons have been recognised and put into production by many large companies for their excellent properties. Due to the monopoly of the chemical giants, there is not yet a good understanding of semi-aromatic nylon in China, and we can only see foreign modified semi-aromatic nylon and cannot use this new material for our own modification.

Nylon (PA) material properties at a glance

Advantages.

1, high mechanical strength, good toughness, high tensile and compressive strength. The tensile strength is close to the yield strength, which is more than double that of ABS.

2. Outstanding fatigue resistance, the parts can still maintain their original mechanical strength after repeated bending.

3、High softening point and heat resistance.

4、Smooth surface, small coefficient of friction, wear-resistant.

5, corrosion resistance, very resistant to alkali and most salt liquids, but also resistant to weak acids, oil, gasoline, aromatic compounds and general solvents, aromatic compounds are inert, but not resistant to strong acids and oxidizing agents.

6、Self-extinguishing, non-toxic, odourless, good weather resistance, inert to biological erosion, good antibacterial, anti-mould ability.

7、Excellent electrical properties.

8, light weight, easy to dye, easy to shape.

Disadvantages.

1、Easy to absorb water. Saturated water can reach 3% or more, to a certain extent, affect the dimensional stability. In the modification process, nylon can reduce the water absorption rate by adding fiber reinforcement. Semi-aromatic nylon contains benzene rings in the molecular chain, its water absorption rate is very low, changing the impression of “nylon = water absorption” in the eyes of people; due to the existence of benzene rings, its dimensional stability has been well enhanced, so that it can be injection moulded into precision parts.

2, light resistance is poor, in the long-term high temperature environment will be oxidation with the oxygen in the air.