Printed from Kezuriba (kezuriba.net/en/materials/pa6-cast/)
Cast nylon (PA6)
ISO N (non-ferrous)Some makers: ISO O (other (outside the six ISO groups))Tool makers differ on the ISO workpiece group: MAPAL (machining group N4-1 "thermoplastics" under symbol N of DIN ISO 513, with PA given as an example. No distinction is made for cast material): N[4]; Sandvik Coromant: O (Thermoplastics and thermosets are grouped under O (Other, outside ISO))[5]. Choose insert grades and data according to the maker of the tool you use.
Cast polyamide 6 (semi-crystalline engineering plastic). Ensinger writes it as PA 6 C, Röchling as PA 6 G. Standard: ASTM D5989 (extruded and monomer-cast nylon shapes). ISO 16396-1 excludes monomer-cast PA6 and PA12.
📄Related standards (ISO, ASTM, JIS)
Standards that define the material or stock shapes. Standard texts are paid, so only titles and scopes checked on public pages are shown.
| Spec | Scope | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM D5989-18 | Standard Specification for Extruded and Monomer Cast Shapes Made from Nylon (PA)Requirements for materials, dimensions, finish and properties of extruded and monomer-cast nylon sheet, rod and round tube (excluding pipe and fittings), and the test methods | Agrees in 2+ sources[3] |
| ISO 16396-1:2022 | Plastics — Polyamide (PA) moulding and extrusion materials — Part 1: Designation system and basis for specificationsDesignation of polyamide molding and extrusion materials. Monomer-cast PA6 and PA12 are excluded (the body text of the iso.org page could not be retrieved; confirmed from the search-result summary) | One source / reference[8] |
All ASTM standards on Kezuriba: ASTM standards quick reference.
📋Typical properties
Plastic properties vary with maker, grade and processing. These are makers’ published typical values, not guaranteed values. For design, check the data sheet of the grade you use.
| Property | Value | Test method | Source of value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 88 MPa | ISO 527-1/-2 | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG, dry) One source / reference[1] |
| Tensile strength | 83 MPa | DIN EN ISO 527-2 (50mm/min) | Typical value (Ensinger TECAST T natural. Tensile strength at yield is 80) One source / reference[2] |
| Tensile strength | 76 MPa | ISO 527-1/-2 | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6 PLA NU, dry) One source / reference[9] |
| Tensile strength | 13,939 psi | ASTM D638 | Typical value (MCAM MC Nylon MC901/900NC. The ISO column is blank in the US-version document. Corresponds to about 96 MPa, but this is not an SI value from the document) One source / reference[7] |
| Flexural modulus | 3200 MPa | ISO 178 (Ensinger: DIN EN ISO 178, 2 mm/min) | Typical value (Ensinger TECAST T natural, MCAM Ertalon 6 PLA NU. MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG is 3280) Agrees in 2+ sources[2][9] |
| Flexural modulus | 512 ksi | ASTM D790 | Typical value (MCAM MC Nylon MC901/900NC. ISO column is blank in the US version) One source / reference[7] |
| Rockwell hardness | M88 Rockwell M scale | ISO 2039-2 (10 mm thick specimen) | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG and 6 PLA NU. Two documents from the same company. The ASTM D785 value for 6PLA FG is M85) One source / reference[1][9] |
| Durometer hardness (Shore D) | 83 Shore D | DIN EN ISO 868 | Typical value (Ensinger TECAST T natural) One source / reference[2] |
| Durometer hardness (Shore D) | 80 Shore D | ISO 868 | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG. The ASTM D2240 value is 85) One source / reference[1] |
| Deflection temperature under load (1.8 MPa) | 80 ℃ | ISO 75-1/-2 Method A | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG) One source / reference[1] |
| Deflection temperature under load (1.8 MPa) | 200 °F | ASTM D648 (264 psi) | Typical value (ASTM column of MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG; Ensinger TECAST T natural, US page) Agrees in 2+ sources[1][10] |
| Continuous use temperature (guideline) | 90 ℃ | Temperature at which tensile strength falls to about 50% after 20,000 hours in air (MCAM's definition) | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG) One source / reference[1] |
| Continuous use temperature (guideline) | 100 ℃ | Long-term use temperature (Ensinger. Test conditions not stated) | Typical value (Ensinger TECAST T natural. Short-term is 170°C) One source / reference[2] |
| Continuous use temperature (guideline) | 248 °F | 20,000 hours in air (MCAM's definition) | Typical value (MCAM MC Nylon MC901/900NC. Corresponds to 120°C) One source / reference[7] |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion | 8.0 (23–60℃) / 9.0 (23–100℃) ×10⁻⁵/K | MCAM (units in the document are µm/(m·K); 80/90) | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG) One source / reference[1] |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion | 12 (23–60℃) / 12 (23–100℃) ×10⁻⁵/K | DIN EN ISO 11359-1;2 (longitudinal direction) | Typical value (Ensinger TECAST T natural) One source / reference[2] |
| Water absorption (23°C water, 24 h) | 0.65 % | ISO 62 (φ50 × 3 mm disk) | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG. The ASTM D570 value is 0.60) One source / reference[1] |
| Water absorption (23°C water, 24 h) | 0.8 % | ASTM D570 | Typical value (MCAM MC Nylon MC901/900NC) One source / reference[7] |
| Water absorption (23°C water, 24 h) | 1.2 % | ASTM D570 (73°F) | Typical value (Ensinger TECAST T natural, US page) One source / reference[10] |
| Water absorption (23°C water, 24 h) | 0.2–0.4 (24h / 96h) % | DIN EN ISO 62 | Typical value (Ensinger TECAST T natural, European page. Given as the 24 h and 96 h values side by side) One source / reference[2] |
| Water absorption (23°C water, saturation) | 6.5 % | MCAM (the ASTM D570 value is 7) | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG. MC901/900NC is 6 by ASTM D570; Ensinger TECAST T US page is 5.5) One source / reference[1] |
| Melting point | 215 ℃ | ISO 11357-1/-3 (DSC) / DIN EN ISO 11357 | Typical value (MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG, Ensinger TECAST T natural) Agrees in 2+ sources[1][2] |
| Melting point | 431 °F | ASTM D3418 | Typical value (MCAM MC Nylon MC901/900NC. Corresponds to about 222°C) One source / reference[7] |
⚖Density
1.15 g/cm³
MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG (ISO 1183-1) and Ensinger TECAST T natural (European page) give 1.15. MC901/900NC has a specific gravity of 1.16 (ASTM D792), and the Ensinger US page gives 1.14. The MCAM Ertalon 6 PLA NU document gives 1.09, which is far from the others and may be a misprint
Calculate weight in Cast nylon (PA6) →🏷Common trade names (makers)
Plastics are often called by a maker’s product name. Names are trademarks of their owners.
- MC Nylon (MC901, MC900NC, etc.) (Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (MCAM))MC Nylon is a registered trademark of Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (as stated in the document)[7][11]
- Ertalon 6PLA / Ertalon 6 PLA NU (Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (MCAM))Ertalon is a trademark of Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (the document says "protected trademark")[1]
- TECAST T (Ensinger)Ensinger product name (the US page writes it as TECAST®)[2][10]
- Sustamid 6G (Röchling)Röchling product name (the page writes it as Sustamid®). Values are not shown on the page and could not be obtained[12]
🔧Machinability notes (as stated in the sources)
- MCAM cutting guide (PA column; Ertalon/Nylatron): Turning: clearance angle 5–15°, rake angle 0–10°, feed 0.05–0.5 mm/rev, cutting speed 200–500 m/min (HSS or carbide). Milling: clearance angle 5–15°, rake angle 0–15°, feed up to 0.5 mm/tooth, 200–500 m/min. Drilling: clearance angle 5–10°, rake angle 3–5°, point angle 90–120°, feed 0.1–0.3 mm/rev, 50–100 m/min[6]
- For polyamides, raise feed and speed so the chips clear the cutting edge, which prevents chip build-up and wrapping. Choose tools with large clearance, and use 2- or 3-flute end mills with a large helix angle. Air blow is recommended for cooling (MCAM)[6]
- Coolant is unnecessary for most operations (except drilling and parting off). When finish and dimensional accuracy matter, a water-soluble coolant without aromatics is recommended. Drilling tends to build up heat when the depth exceeds twice the diameter, so use coolant and peck to clear chips (MCAM)[6]
- In many plastics the hole shrinks after drilling, so check the actual stock removal for tap drill sizes. In turning, many diameters grow after machining, so aim for the lower limit of the dimension. Letting the part rest 24 hours after roughing before finishing tends to stabilize dimensions (MCAM)[6]
- Removing a lot of material from one face of a sheet only will cause warping. Countermeasures listed: use cast polyamide sheet, machine symmetrically about the extrusion centerline, cut grooves in the opposite face as well, or remove material evenly from both faces (MCAM)[6]
- Annealing (stress relief): for PA, hold temperature 160°C, heating rate 10–20°C/h, hold 10 min per mm of wall thickness, cooling 5–10°C/h. In air, nitrogen or oil. For precision parts, the order is rough machining, annealing, then light finish machining (MCAM)[6]
- Guideline for dimensional change from water absorption: saturated water absorption in 23°C water is 6.5% (ISO) for MCAM Ertalon 6PLA FG and 6% (ASTM D570) for MC901/900NC. These are typical dry-state values; properties and dimensions change with the humidity of the service environment[1][7]
📚Sources
Primary sources (public documents from makers, industry associations and standards bodies), numbered where each value is cited. Many are in Japanese.
- mcam.com https://www.mcam.com/mam/61289/GEP-Ertalon%E2%84%A2%206PLA%20FG%20PA6_en_US.pdf
- ensingerplastics.com https://www.ensingerplastics.com/en/shapes/pa6-tecast-t-natural
- store.astm.org https://store.astm.org/d5989-18.html
- mapal.com https://mapal.com/medias/sys_master/root/hea/hd5/10787307716638/MMG-2025__EN/MMG-2025-EN.p…
- sandvik.coromant.com https://www.sandvik.coromant.com/en-us/knowledge/materials/workpiece-materials
- mcam.com https://www.mcam.com/mam/41701/MCG-Machinist-Toolkit-A4-EU-metric.pdf
- mcam.com https://www.mcam.com/mam/41839/GEP-MC%20Nylon%E2%84%A2%20MC901-MC900NC%20PA6_en_US.pdf
- iso.org https://www.iso.org/standard/81940.html
- mcam.com https://www.mcam.com/mam/53790/GEP-Ertalon%E2%84%A2%206%20PLA%20NU%20PA6_en_US.pdf
- ensingerplastics.com https://www.ensingerplastics.com/en-us/shapes/pa6-tecast-t-natural
- pr.mono.ipros.com https://pr.mono.ipros.com/en/mcam/product/detail/2001604520
- roechling.com https://www.roechling.com/industrial/materials/thermoplastics/engineering-plastics/pa/pa-6…
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