At One Place

Nylon 6

Density of nylon 6
1,140 kg/m³ (1,120–1,150)
1.14 g/cm³ · 71.2 lb/ft³

It absorbs water — up to 9% by weight at saturation — and that is the single most important thing to know about it. A wet nylon part is tougher and more flexible than a dry one, and it is also up to 3% larger, which has ruined more nylon gear trains than any load ever has. Nylon 6 is easier to cast in thick sections than nylon 66, which is why large sheet and rod stock is usually nylon 6.

Properties

Density
1,140 kg/m³ (1,120–1,150) — 1.14 g/cm³
Melting range
215–225 °C
Tensile strength
60–85 MPa
Young's modulus
2.7 GPa
Thermal conductivity
0.25 W/(m·K)
Thermal expansion
80 µm/(m·K)
Floats in water
No
Magnetic
No

What it is used for

  • Cast nylon gears and wear pads
  • Rope, webbing and carpet fibre
  • Cable ties and fasteners
  • Fuel and air lines

How it compares

Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.

air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
nylon 6 1,140 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.
Material Density Relative to water
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³ 0.04×
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³ 0.02×
air 1.2 kg/m³ 0.00×
nylon 6 ← 1,140 kg/m³ 1.14×
platinum 21,450 kg/m³ 21.45×
gold 19,300 kg/m³ 19.30×
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³ 19.25×

Does it rust?

Nylon 6 contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

Is it magnetic?

Nylon 6 is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Common questions

What is the density of nylon 6?
1,140 kg/m³ (1,120–1,150), or 1.14 g/cm³.
Does nylon 6 float?
No. At 1,140 kg/m³ it is denser than water.
Is nylon 6 magnetic?
Nylon 6 is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked