Material comparison

Nylon (PA6 / PA12) vs PA-CF: which one?

A tough, wear-resistant engineering plastic with low friction. An industrial filament combining nylon's toughness with carbon fiber's stiffness. So which one is right for your project? Compare the values, strengths and weaknesses side by side.

Add a third material

Nylon (PA6 / PA12)

Polyamide filament

Nylon (polyamide) is the classic material for parts that see friction and impact, such as gears, bushings and hinges. It stands out for its toughness, wear resistance and low friction coefficient. Because it absorbs moisture, humidity must be controlled before printing and in use; as it absorbs moisture it becomes more flexible and tougher.

Strength3

Stiffness2

Toughness / impact5

Heat resistance3

Chemical resistance4

UV / outdoor2

Detail and surface3

Ease of production2

Nylon (PA6 / PA12) page →

PA-CF

Carbon fiber reinforced nylon (PA6-CF / PA12-CF)

PA-CF is polyamide reinforced with chopped carbon fiber. It is much stiffer and more dimensionally stable than unreinforced nylon, and its heat resistance increases significantly. It is often used for fixtures, jigs, robot grippers and lightweight structural parts that replace metal.

Strength4

Stiffness5

Toughness / impact3

Heat resistance4

Chemical resistance4

UV / outdoor3

Detail and surface3

Ease of production2

PA-CF page →

Values

Technical comparison

Property	Nylon (PA6 / PA12)	PA-CF
Density	1.1 g/cm³	1.2 g/cm³
Tensile strength	55 MPa	85 MPa
Elongation at break	50 %	3 %
Modulus (stiffness)	1.6 GPa	6 GPa
Heat deflection (0.45 MPa)	80 °C	160 °C

PA-CF has higher tensile strength: 85 MPa, versus 55 MPa for Nylon (PA6 / PA12).
PA-CF is more heat resistant: 160 °C, versus 80 °C for Nylon (PA6 / PA12).
Nylon (PA6 / PA12) stretches further before breaking: 50 %, versus 3 % for PA-CF.
PA-CF is stiffer: 6 GPa, versus 1.6 GPa for Nylon (PA6 / PA12).

Decision

Which one, and when?

Choose Nylon (PA6 / PA12) if…

Toughness / impact matters more
you are making gears and bushings
you are making hinges and clips
you are making wear plates

Choose PA-CF if…

Stiffness matters more
Strength matters more
Heat resistance matters more
UV / outdoor matters more
you are making fixtures and assembly tooling
you are making robot gripper fingers
you are making drone and automotive structural parts

Good to know

Nylon (PA6 / PA12) vs PA-CF: frequently asked questions

Which is stronger: Nylon (PA6 / PA12) or PA-CF?

PA-CF has higher tensile strength: 85 MPa, versus 55 MPa for Nylon (PA6 / PA12).

Which is more heat resistant: Nylon (PA6 / PA12) or PA-CF?

PA-CF is more heat resistant: 160 °C, versus 80 °C for Nylon (PA6 / PA12).

Which is easier to produce?

Both materials are similarly easy to produce.

Which is more economical?

Price levels are similar; the exact price depends on the part and quantity.

Which one is right for your part?

Tell us the operating conditions; let's decide together which of the two fits, or find a better alternative.

Get a quote Contact us