What Are the Main Types of Nylon and How Are They Different?

You keep seeing nylon codes—6, 6/6, 11, 12—on material sheets and wonder, What do these numbers even mean? Sorting the types of nylon feels like alphabet soup, and the wrong pick could make your product snap, warp, or soak up water.

Success: Pick Nylon 6 for flexible parts, Nylon 6/6 for high-heat strength, and specialty nylons (11, 12, 6/10, 4/6) when you need low moisture or extra heat resistance.

In the next sections, we’ll answer “what is nylon,” break down Nylon 6 vs Nylon 66, and tour every major family. You’ll see tables, quick tips, danger notes, and plenty of plain-English comparisons so you can choose the best nylon material without a chemistry degree.

Know The Different Types Of Nylon

Nylon isn’t a single plastic—it’s a clan. Each member’s number flags how many carbon atoms sit in the chain. Fewer carbons mean lower melt points and more water-loving; higher numbers mean slicker, drier, pricier parts. Mastering these types of nylon means balancing price, toughness, and moisture habits the way a chef balances sugar and salt.

Nylon 6: The Everyday Workhorse

Made from one ring-shaped monomer that unzips like a Slinky, Nylon 6 offers a glossy finish, forgiving molding shrinkage, and friendlier recycling. It flexes well, making it popular for power-tool housings where impact counts.

Nylon 6/6: High-Heat Heavyweight

Formed from two six-carbon monomers, Nylon 6/6 boasts a higher melting point (260 °C) and greater stiffness. That heat edge makes it darling for under-hood engine clips and zippers that never jam on hot laundry cycles.

Specialty Nylons: 11, 12, 4/6, 6/10

Need low water uptake? Nylon 11 and 12 sip moisture at half the rate of 6. Chasing even more heat? Nylon 4/6 keeps its strength above 150 °C. Greener resume? Bio-based Nylon 6/10 fits the bill.

Nylon 6 Vs Nylon 66—Head-To-Head Performance

Both dominate the nylon material market, but key stats differ:

Info: In “nylon 6 vs nylon 66,” pick 6 for glossy cosmetic parts and 6/6 for parts rubbing all day long.

Strength & Impact Behavior

Nylon chains link like strong spaghetti. The primary types of nylon hold similar tensile numbers (70–80 MPa) when dry. Add glass fibers, and strength can triple. But impact—how it handles sudden blows—shifts: Nylon 6 bends more before breaking; Nylon 6/6 stays rigid but can chip when pushed to extremes.

Quick Tip: For crash-prone housings, blend Nylon 6 with 20 % rubber to soak hits yet keep easy molding.

Heat Performance & Long-Term Ageing 

Under the hood or in dishwashers, temperature rules. Nylon 6/6’s higher crystalline order shields it past 150°C continuous use, while Nylon 6 levels off near 120 °C. Nylon 4/6, thanks to shorter amide gaps, holds strength up to 170 °C, earning spots in turbo air ducts.

Fact: A 10°C rise above the glass-transition halves fatigue life. Always check service temp, not just melt point.

Moisture Absorption & Dimensional Stability 

All polyamides drink water, but not equally. Nylon 6 can gain 2.7 % weight in 24 h at 50 % RH; Nylon 11 sips just 0.8 %. Swell matters for threads and gears. Dry-as-a-bone parts? Lean toward lower-number specialty types of nylon, like 11, 12, or 6/10.

Warnings: Never machine critical tolerances on wet nylon—dry cycle parts to 0.2 % moisture first.

Chemical & Uv Resistance

Most nylons shrug at oils and fuels, but acids attack amide bonds. Nylon 12’s longer chains improve acid tolerance and resist road salts—perfect for brake-line tubes. UV is another foe; standard grades chalk outdoors. Add 2 % carbon black and a HALS stabilizer for multi-year sun duty.

Processing Ease & Tooling Considerations

Nylon 6 fills molds at lower pressures, a boon for thin-wall parts. Nylon 6/6 needs hotter barrels and bigger vents, but ejects faster thanks to higher stiffness. Specialty nylons may demand stainless screws to avoid corrosion. For low-volume pilots, prototype molding services often favor Nylon 6 to dodge shrink headaches.

Suggestion: Use 1–2 ° draft on core side; higher shrink nylons suck onto cores harder.

Cost & Supply Chain

In bulk, Nylon 6 pellets run 20–30 % cheaper than 6/6. Nylon 11 and 12 sit at the high end due to limited feedstock. During shortages, asking “is nylon natural?” makes sense—PA11 can derive 100 % from castor beans, giving you a sustainable talking point.

Reinforcement & Blending Options

Add 30 % glass to Nylon 6 and you rival aluminum modulus. Carbon fiber boosts stiffness further but spikes cost. Impact modifiers reverse brittleness in 6/6. Flame retardants turn any nylon material into UL-94 V-0 casings—handy for EV battery packs.

Common Applications By Nylon Type

Future Trends & Bio-Based Moves

Sustainability drives new types of nylon. Bio-PA11 already claims 50 % of the EV brake-line market. Recycled Nylon 6 carpets are depolymerized back into caprolactam, closing the loop. Watch enzymes that break old nylon into monomer feedstock—proof that “is nylon natural” isn’t just academic.

Danger: Verify mechanical specs of recycled pellets—they vary more than virgin lots.

Quick Comparison Table | Types of Nylon

Conclusion

Navigating the types of nylon isn’t scary once you match numbers to needs: Nylon 6 flexes and shines, Nylon 6/6 muscles through heat, and specialty grades (11, 12, 6/10, 4/6) solve moisture or extreme-temp puzzles. By asking “what is nylon,” comparing “nylon 6 vs nylon 66,” weighing nylon material costs, and noting “is nylon natural,” you’ll choose the perfect polymer and sleep well knowing the part will perform.

FAQs

Does nylon absorb water quickly?
Yes, but rates vary—Nylon 6 soaks more than Nylon 12.

Is nylon recyclable?
Many grades are. PA6 can depolymerize back to monomer for reuse.

Why pick glass-filled nylon over metal?
It cuts weight by 50%, resists corrosion, and often costs less.

Can I 3-D print nylon parts?
Selective laser sintering works best, mainly with PA11 or PA12 powders.

Is nylon food-safe?
Certain FDA-compliant grades are available, but always request certification.