Polyamide – balanced property profile

What is polyamide (PA)?

Polyamide (PA) is a technical Thermoplastic with high strength, good toughness, and excellent chemical resistance. Due to its wear resistance and dimensional stability, PA is used in numerous technical components – and is one of the most widely used base materials in Plastic composite parts, where it is combined with elastic rubber components as a rigid basic framework.

 

The properties of polyamide (PA) include: * High mechanical strength and stiffness * Good wear resistance and toughness * Good fatigue resistance * Good chemical resistance, particularly to oils, greases and aliphatic hydrocarbons * Good electrical insulation properties * Self-extinguishing (flame retardant) for some types * Good processability, usually through injection moulding or extrusion * Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture), which can affect dimensional stability and mechanical properties * Can be susceptible to strong acids and oxidising agents

Polyamide has a balanced property profile that makes it one of the most important engineering plastics:

  • High mechanical strength up to 80MPa. (glass fibre reinforced types up to 250 MPa)
  • Good impact strength even with low temperatures
  • Good abrasion and sliding properties for use with rubbing components such as gears or bearings
  • Temperature resistance up to approx. 120 °C, depending on material
  • Good electrical insulating properties
  • Low density (~1.14 g/cm³) and high strength enable use as a metal substitute
  • Polyamide absorbs moisture, which reduces stiffness but increases toughness
  • Good resistance to chemicals. Oiling, fats and fuels, but sensitive to strong acids and bases

 

What are the application areas of polyamide (PA)?

Polyamide is frequently used in:

  • Mechanical and plant engineering: gear wheels, rollers, plain bearings, guides, spacer sleeves
  • Automotive industry: Housing, Enclosure covers, clips, connecting elements, cable guides
  • Electrical engineering: connectors, insulation components, coilformers
  • Aerospace: Lightweight structural parts with high strength
  • Medical technology: Mechanically loaded holders or encapsulations (not implantable)
  • Rubber-Plastic Composite PartsUse as a hard insert or support structure for elastic components, e.g. Seals, Damper or membranes

The good combinability with elastomers such as TPE, NBR or EPDM in combination with an adhesion promoter makes polyamide an ideal partner for Multi-component injection moulding or hybrid components.