What is PA6 Plastic?

Polyamide (PA), commonly known as Nylon, is a thermoplastic engineering plastic containing amide groups (-NHCO-) in its molecular chain. It can be divided into aliphatic and aromatic polyamides and is one of the earliest and most widely used engineering plastics.

Polyamide materials are widely used in fibers, engineering plastics, and films. According to the number of carbon atoms in the molecular structure, many types of polyamides can be produced, among which PA6, PA66, and PA610 are the most commonly used.

Introduction to PA6 (Polyamide 6)

PA6 is an aliphatic polyamide known for its lightweight properties, high mechanical strength, wear resistance, and excellent processing performance. It is widely used in engineering plastics, fibers, automotive components, and industrial applications.

However, PA6 molecules contain highly polar amide groups that easily form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. As a result, PA6 has relatively high water absorption, which may affect dimensional stability and impact performance under dry or low-temperature conditions.

Advantages of Nylon 6 (PA6)

• High mechanical strength and excellent toughness
• Outstanding fatigue resistance under repeated bending
• High heat resistance and softening point
• Low friction coefficient and excellent wear resistance
• Excellent resistance to oils, alkalis, and general solvents
• Good anti-aging and weather resistance
• Self-extinguishing, non-toxic, and odorless
• Excellent electrical insulation performance
• Lightweight and easy to process and mold

Disadvantages of Nylon 6 (PA6)

• High water absorption rate
• Poor dimensional stability in humid environments
• Limited resistance to strong acids and oxidants
• Surface discoloration and oxidation under long-term high temperatures
• Strict injection molding moisture requirements
• Possible deformation and warpage during molding

Why Fill PA6 with Long Glass Fiber?

Although PA6 has excellent mechanical properties and processing performance, its high water absorption and dimensional instability limit its use in high-performance engineering applications.

To improve the overall performance of PA6, reinforcement modification is commonly used. Adding long glass fiber (LGF) or carbon fiber significantly enhances:

• Mechanical strength
• Impact resistance
• Dimensional stability
• Heat resistance
• Fatigue resistance
• Structural rigidity

Long glass fiber reinforced PA6 is widely used in automotive, industrial, and structural engineering applications.

Applications of PA6-LGF

PA6 reinforced with 30% long glass fiber (LGF30) is an ideal engineering material for:

• Power tool housings and components
• Automotive structural parts
• Engineering machinery components
• Industrial load-bearing structures
• Mechanical and electrical equipment parts

Compared with unreinforced PA6, the fatigue resistance strength can be increased by up to 2.5 times.

Processing & Forming Guidelines for PA6 + 30% LGF

• Adding 30% long glass fiber can reduce PA6 shrinkage from approximately 1–1.5% down to around 0.3%.
• Excessive recycled material should be avoided, as it may reduce mechanical properties and cause discoloration.
• Recycled material should generally not exceed 25% and must be fully dried before processing.
• Fiber orientation during injection molding may cause warpage; proper gate design and mold temperature control are recommended.
• Slow cooling in hot water treatment can help reduce internal stress and deformation.

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