PA66 compound guide
Neat PA66 is rarely the shipped material. Almost every commercial PA66 grade is a compound: glass-fibre reinforced (PA66-GF15 to GF50), mineral filled, impact modified with EPDM or MBS, flame retardant to UL 94 V-0, heat-stabilised for under-hood service, or lubricated with PTFE / MoS₂ for wear. This guide maps the main PA66 compound families to their properties, target applications and dominant trade names — Zytel (DuPont / Celanese), Ultramid A (BASF), Radilon A (RadiciGroup), Technyl (Domo) and Vydyne (Ascend).
What to look for
- Glass fibre content — GF15 / GF25 / GF33 / GF50 for stiffness and creep
- Impact-modified grades for cold-service ductility
- Heat-stabilised (HS) grades for continuous 150–200 °C under-hood use
- Flame retardant (FR) UL 94 V-0 grades for electrical connectors
- Lubricated (PTFE / MoS₂) grades for gears and bearings
- Hydrolysis-resistant grades for coolant and hot-water contact
Top materials for pa66 compound guide
- #1ABSAcrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
A tough engineering thermoplastic widely used in automotive, consumer products, electronics and 3D printing.
- #2PolycarbonatePolycarbonate
A transparent, high-impact engineering plastic used in glazing, electronics and safety equipment.
- #3PA66Polyamide 6,6 (Nylon)
A tough, wear-resistant nylon widely used for gears, bushings, and under-the-hood automotive parts.
- #4PEEKPolyether Ether Ketone
A semi-crystalline high-performance polymer with outstanding thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties.
- #5PolypropylenePolypropylene
A lightweight, fatigue-resistant polymer ubiquitous in packaging, textiles, and living hinges.
- #6Acrylic (PMMA)Poly(methyl methacrylate)
A rigid, glass-clear thermoplastic offering excellent UV resistance and optical clarity.
- #7POM (Delrin)Polyoxymethylene
A stiff, low-friction acetal polymer engineered for precision gears and mechanical parts.
- #8PA610 Low AbsorptionPolyamide 610 Low Absorption
Lower moisture absorption than PA6/PA66, good chemical and dimensional stability.
- #9PBT StandardPolybutylene Terephthalate Standard
Excellent electrical properties, good chemical resistance, low warpage.
- #10PPS GF40Polyphenylene Sulfide, 40% Glass Fiber Reinforced
Exceptional thermal stability, chemical resistance, and inherent flame retardancy.
- #11PPA StandardPolyphthalamide Standard
High strength and stiffness at elevated temperatures, good chemical resistance.
- #12PPO/PPE StandardPolyphenylene Oxide / Polyphenylene Ether Standard
Excellent hydrolytic stability, dimensional stability, and electrical properties.
- #13PC/PBT BlendPolycarbonate / Polybutylene Terephthalate Blend
Good toughness, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability.
- #14PSU StandardPolysulfone Standard
High temperature resistance, good mechanical strength, and transparency.
- #15PES High TempPolyethersulfone High Temperature
Higher continuous use temperature and creep resistance than PSU.
- #16LCP Vectra ALiquid Crystal Polymer Vectra A
Exceptional flowability in thin walls, high thermal and chemical resistance.
- #17ASA UV ResistantAcrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate UV Resistant
Excellent weatherability and UV resistance, good impact strength.
- #18MABS TransparentMethacrylate-Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Transparent
Clear, tough, and good chemical resistance.
- #19Aromatic Nylon GFAromatic Polyamide/Nylon, Glass Fiber Reinforced
High stiffness, strength, and thermal resistance, excellent barrier properties.
- #20PA6 Impact ModifiedPolyamide 6, Impact Modified
Improved toughness and ductility compared to standard PA6.
Frequently asked
PA66 compounded with 30 % by weight short glass fibre. Tensile strength jumps from ~80 MPa (neat) to 180–200 MPa; modulus from 3 to ~10 GPa; HDT at 1.8 MPa from ~75 °C to 240–250 °C. It is the workhorse under-hood and connector grade.
The main producers are BASF (Ultramid A), Celanese / DuPont (Zytel), RadiciGroup (Radilon A), Domo Chemicals (Technyl), Ascend (Vydyne), Toray (Amilan CM), Lanxess (Durethan AKV) and EMS-Grivory (Grivory).
PA66 gives higher HDT, better creep resistance and lower moisture uptake than PA6 for the same glass loading. PA6 is easier to process, cheaper and has better surface finish. Under-hood, connectors and gears default to PA66; consumer housings often use PA6.
Yes — even glass-filled PA66 absorbs 1.5–3 % moisture at equilibrium in 50 % RH, which shifts dimensions and impact behaviour. Dry-as-moulded specifications matter for connectors and precision parts; hydrolysis-resistant HR grades are used for coolant contact.
Yes — PA66-GF30 with PTFE / silicone / MoS₂ lubrication (e.g. Zytel 103HSL, Ultramid A3WG7 LG) is a standard gear compound. For dry-running high-load gears, POM or PEEK are preferred.