Nylon (PA6) vs ABS
Nylon (PA6) and ABS are both common engineering thermoplastics, but they solve different problems: PA6 is a tough, wear-resistant mechanical workhorse, while ABS is a stable, easy-to-finish material for housings and cosmetic parts.
The verdict
Choose Nylon (PA6) when the part needs toughness, fatigue resistance, low friction, or higher heat and chemical resistance — gears, bushings, snap-fits and load-bearing brackets. Choose ABS when you need dimensional stability, easy machining and finishing, low cost, and a cosmetic enclosure or housing that won't see heavy mechanical or thermal stress. PA6's weakness is moisture absorption; ABS's is lower strength and heat tolerance.
Side-by-side data
| Property | Nylon (PA6) | ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Engineering Plastic | Plastic |
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.14 | 1.05 |
| Tensile strength (MPa) | 80 | 40 |
| Yield strength (MPa) | 80 | 40 |
| Elongation (%) | 50 | 10 |
| Hardness | R120 | R105 |
| Max service temp (°C) | 110 | 80 |
| Machinability | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Corrosion resistance | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Relative cost | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Thermal cond. (W/m·K) | 0.25 | 0.17 |
| Typically used for | Gears, bushings & wear parts | Prototypes, housings & consumer parts |
Which should you choose?
Choose Nylon (PA6) if…
- The part is load-bearing or wear-prone: gears, cams, bushings, rollers, sliding guides.
- You need toughness and fatigue/impact resistance under repeated stress or living hinges.
- The application runs hot or sees solvents, fuels, and oils that would attack ABS.
- Low friction and self-lubrication matter for moving, mating, or sliding surfaces.
- You can manage moisture absorption with drying, sealing, or design allowances.
Choose ABS if…
- You're building a cosmetic enclosure, housing, panel, or consumer-product shell.
- Dimensional stability matters — ABS barely absorbs moisture, so parts hold tolerance in humid air.
- You need easy machining, solvent-welding, gluing, painting, or electroplating for a finished look.
- Cost is a primary driver and the part sees only light-to-moderate mechanical stress.
- You want forgiving, low-warp processing for FDM printing, injection molding, or thermoforming.
Key differences that matter
- Nylon (PA6) is markedly tougher, more wear-resistant and more fatigue-resistant than ABS, which makes it the default for mechanical, moving, and load-bearing parts.
- ABS wins on dimensional stability: it absorbs almost no moisture, while PA6 swells and loses stiffness as it takes on water, shifting tolerances and properties.
- ABS is far easier to finish — it machines cleanly, glues and solvent-welds readily, and uniquely accepts paint and electroplating; PA6 resists adhesives and is harder to bond.
- PA6 handles higher continuous temperatures and resists oils, fuels and many solvents that craze or dissolve ABS.
- ABS is generally cheaper and easier to process with low warp, whereas PA6 needs careful drying and higher melt temperatures to mold well.
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Open the Material SelectorGet a Quote →Frequently asked questions
Is Nylon (PA6) stronger than ABS?
Yes, in most practical senses. PA6 has higher tensile strength, much better impact toughness, and far superior wear and fatigue resistance. ABS is stiffer-feeling and more brittle. For structural or moving parts, PA6 is the stronger choice; for static cosmetic parts, ABS is usually adequate.
Which is cheaper, Nylon or ABS?
ABS is generally the cheaper material and is also cheaper to process, with lower drying demands and less warp. PA6 costs more per kilogram and adds processing cost from mandatory drying and higher melt temperatures, so total part cost favors ABS unless PA6's performance is required.
Can I glue, paint, or electroplate these plastics?
ABS is excellent here: it solvent-welds with acetone or ABS cement, glues easily, paints well, and is one of the few plastics readily electroplated. PA6 is difficult to bond and paint because of its low surface energy and chemical resistance; it usually needs surface treatment (flame, plasma, or primer) first.
Why does moisture matter for Nylon (PA6)?
PA6 is hygroscopic and absorbs several percent water from humid air. Absorbed moisture makes it tougher and less brittle but swells the part, reduces stiffness and strength, and shifts dimensions. For tight-tolerance or dry/electrical applications, account for this or pick ABS, which is essentially unaffected by humidity.
Which is better for 3D printing?
ABS is more forgiving for hobby FDM but warps and needs an enclosure and ventilation. PA6 (nylon) prints tougher, more functional parts but is harder: it demands an all-metal hotset, careful filament drying, and good bed adhesion. Choose ABS for easy cosmetic prints, nylon for durable functional parts.
Property values are typical/nominal figures for early-stage guidance only and vary by temper, grade, supplier and heat treatment. Confirm critical specifications against a certified datasheet or with an mfgiq engineer before production.