spore: profile
id: pa-66
spore_version: 0.2
family: polyamides
name: "Polyamide 66 (nylon 66)"
abbreviation: PA 66
role: "engineering thermoplastic for moulded parts, with a dry and a conditioned state"
category: polymers
type: polyamides
summary: >
  Polyamide 66 (nylon 66) is a semicrystalline polyamide. BASF Ultramid A3K is read here in two states: the dry (as-moulded) grade Q601, with a density of 1.13 g/cc and a yield stress of 85 MPa (ISO 527), and the conditioned variant Q603, with a density of 1.14 g/cc and a yield stress of 54 MPa (ISO 527). Water uptake is the large difference: 2.8 % at 50 % RH against 8.5 % at saturation for the dry grade. As a sample on the MISSE 2 experiment in low Earth orbit it had an atomic oxygen erosion yield of 1.8e-24 cm3/atom, from NASA TM-2008-215490.
best_for: "Stiff moulded parts where the dry state is known: 3 GPa tensile modulus and 85 MPa yield stress in the dry BASF Q601 grade, as printed on the datasheet page"
weakest_at: "Water: 8.5 % moisture at saturation changes the stiffness and strength of the part. The conditioned Q603 grade has a tensile modulus of 1.2 GPa against 3 GPa dry"
identity:
  name: "Polyamide 66 (nylon 66)"
  abbreviation: "PA 66"
  formula: "C12H22N2O2 (smallest repeat unit as listed by NASA)"
  source: nasa-tm-2008-215490
  where: "Table IV, column Formula"
tags:
  environments: [low-earth-orbit]
  stresses: [atomic-oxygen]
  applications: [mechanisms, electronics-and-chips, structures]
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: "Density, BASF Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 1.13
    unit: g/cc
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", test: "ISO 1183", temperature: "not printed on the page"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 1183 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Density row"
  - benchmark: density
    label: "Density, BASF Ultramid A3K Q603 (conditioned)"
    value: 1.14
    unit: g/cc
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q603, PA66 (Conditioned)", test: "ISO 1183", temperature: "not printed on the page"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 1183 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q603
    where: "Data table, Density row"
  - benchmark: tensile_yield_strength
    label: "Tensile strength at yield, Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 85.0
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", test: "ISO 527", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 527 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Tensile Strength, Yield row"
  - benchmark: tensile_yield_strength
    label: "Tensile strength at yield, Ultramid A3K Q603 (conditioned)"
    value: 54.0
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q603, PA66 (Conditioned)", test: "ISO 527", state: "conditioned"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 527 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q603
    where: "Data table, Tensile Strength, Yield row"
  - benchmark: elongation_at_yield
    label: "Elongation at yield, Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 5.0
    unit: "%"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", test: "ISO 527", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 527 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Elongation at Yield row"
  - benchmark: elongation_at_yield
    label: "Elongation at yield, Ultramid A3K Q603 (conditioned)"
    value: 25
    unit: "%"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q603, PA66 (Conditioned)", test: "ISO 527", state: "conditioned"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 527 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q603
    where: "Data table, Elongation at Yield row"
  - benchmark: tensile_modulus
    label: "Tensile modulus, Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 3.00
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", test: "ISO 527", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 527 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Tensile Modulus row"
  - benchmark: tensile_modulus
    label: "Tensile modulus, Ultramid A3K Q603 (conditioned)"
    value: 1.20
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q603, PA66 (Conditioned)", test: "ISO 527", state: "conditioned"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 527 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q603
    where: "Data table, Tensile Modulus row"
  - benchmark: flexural_modulus
    label: "Flexural modulus, Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 2.90
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", test: "ISO 178", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 178 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Flexural Modulus row"
  - benchmark: flexural_modulus
    label: "Flexural modulus, Ultramid A3K Q603 (conditioned)"
    value: 1.10
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q603, PA66 (Conditioned)", test: "ISO 178", state: "conditioned"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 178 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q603
    where: "Data table, Flexural Modulus row"
  - benchmark: flexural_strength
    label: "Flexural strength, Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 100
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", test: "ISO 178", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 178 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Flexural Strength row"
  - benchmark: izod_impact
    label: "Notched Izod impact, Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 5.50
    unit: "kJ/m²"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", temperature: "23 °C", test: "ISO 180", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 180 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Izod Impact, Notched row"
  - benchmark: izod_impact
    label: "Notched Izod impact, Ultramid A3K Q603 (conditioned)"
    value: 14.0
    unit: "kJ/m²"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q603, PA66 (Conditioned)", temperature: "23 °C", test: "ISO 180", state: "conditioned"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 180 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q603
    where: "Data table, Izod Impact, Notched (ISO) row"
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: "Melting point, Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 260
    unit: "°C"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", test: "ISO 3146", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 3146 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Melting Point row"
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: "Melting point, matmake.com page"
    value: 255
    unit: "°C"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "not stated on the page", state: "dry or conditioned not stated", test: "not printed on the page"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the matmake.com page; no test standard printed"
    status: ground
    source: matmake-pa66
    where: "Typical properties list, Melting point line"
  - benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
    label: "Deflection temperature at 1.8 MPa, Ultramid A3K Q601 (dry)"
    value: 75.0
    unit: "°C"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", load: "1.8 MPa", test: "ISO 75", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 75 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Deflection Temperature at 1.8 MPa row"
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: "Moisture absorption at equilibrium, 50 % RH, Ultramid A3K Q601"
    value: 2.8
    unit: "%"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", humidity: "50 % RH", test: "ISO 62", state: "dry before exposure"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 62 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Moisture Absorption at Equilibrium row, 50 % RH"
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: "Moisture absorption at saturation, Ultramid A3K Q601"
    value: 8.5
    unit: "%"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K Q601, PA66 (Dry)", humidity: "saturation", test: "ISO 62", state: "dry before exposure"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 62 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-q601
    where: "Data table, Moisture Absorption at Equilibrium row, Saturation"
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: "Moisture absorption at equilibrium, BK 00464 grade (conditioned)"
    value: 2.5
    value_high: 3.1
    unit: "%"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K BK 00464, PA66 (Conditioned)", temperature: "23 °C", humidity: "50 % RH", test: "ISO 62"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the lookpolymers.com datasheet page, ISO 62 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-bk00464
    where: "Physical Properties table, Moisture Absorption at Equilibrium row"
  - benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
    label: "Atomic oxygen erosion yield, polyamide 66 (MISSE 2)"
    value: 1.8e-24
    unit: cm3/atom
    scope: material
    conditions: {platform: "ISS, MISSE 2 PEC 2 tray 1, low Earth orbit", fluence: "8.43e21 atoms/cm2", duration: "3.95 years"}
    method: "Measured on MISSE 2 flight samples and listed in NASA TM-2008-215490, Table I"
    status: flight
    source: nasa-tm-2008-215490
    where: "Table I, MISSE 2 PEACE polymers erosion yield data, row Polyamide 66"
  - benchmark: cte
    label: "Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, longitudinal, Ultramid A3K"
    value: 98
    unit: "E-6/K"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K, PA66 (uncoloured)", test: "ISO 11359-1/-2", temperature: "23 to 55 °C"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the BASF Ultramid A3K product information PDF (09/2026), ISO 11359 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-a3k-pdf
    where: "Thermal properties table, Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, longitudinal row"
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: "Thermal conductivity, Ultramid A3K"
    value: 0.33
    unit: "W/(m K)"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K, PA66 (uncoloured)", test: "DIN 52612-1", temperature: "not printed in the table"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the BASF Ultramid A3K product information PDF, DIN 52612-1 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-a3k-pdf
    where: "Thermal properties table, Thermal conductivity row"
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: "Specific heat capacity, Ultramid A3K"
    value: 1700
    unit: "J/(kg*K)"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K, PA66 (uncoloured)", test: "not printed in the table", temperature: "not printed in the table"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the BASF Ultramid A3K product information PDF"
    status: ground
    source: basf-a3k-pdf
    where: "Thermal properties table, Specific heat capacity row"
  - benchmark: temperature_index_tensile_50pct_5000h
    label: "Temperature index at 50 % loss of tensile strength after 5000 h, Ultramid A3K"
    value: 118
    unit: "°C"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K, PA66 (uncoloured)", time: "5000 h", test: "IEC 60216"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the BASF Ultramid A3K product information PDF, IEC 60216 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-a3k-pdf
    where: "Thermal properties table, Temperature index at 50% loss of tensile strength after 5000 h row"
  - benchmark: temperature_index_tensile_50pct_20000h
    label: "Temperature index at 50 % loss of tensile strength after 20000 h, Ultramid A3K"
    value: 101
    unit: "°C"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Ultramid A3K, PA66 (uncoloured)", time: "20000 h", test: "IEC 60216"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the BASF Ultramid A3K product information PDF, IEC 60216 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: basf-a3k-pdf
    where: "Thermal properties table, Temperature index at 50% loss of tensile strength after 20000 h row"
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: "Moisture absorption at equilibrium, 23 °C, 50 % RH, Zytel 101L NC010"
    value: 2.6
    unit: "%"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66 (dry before exposure)", humidity: "50 % RH", temperature: "23 °C", thickness: "2.00 mm", test: "ISO 62"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 62 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Physical, Water Absorption, Equilibrium row"
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: "Moisture absorption at saturation, 23 °C, Zytel 101L NC010"
    value: 8.5
    unit: "%"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66 (dry before exposure)", humidity: "saturation", temperature: "23 °C", thickness: "2.00 mm", test: "ISO 62"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 62 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Physical, Water Absorption, Saturation row"
  - benchmark: tensile_modulus
    label: "Tensile modulus, Zytel 101L NC010 (dry)"
    value: 3100
    unit: "MPa"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66", test: "ISO 527-2", state: "dry as moulded"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 527-2 as printed; psi value 450000 also printed"
    status: ground
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Mechanical, Tensile Modulus row, Dry column"
  - benchmark: tensile_modulus
    label: "Tensile modulus, Zytel 101L NC010 (conditioned)"
    value: 1400
    unit: "MPa"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66", test: "ISO 527-2", state: "conditioned"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 527-2 as printed; psi value 203000 also printed"
    status: ground
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Mechanical, Tensile Modulus row, Conditioned column"
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: "Tensile stress at yield, Zytel 101L NC010 (dry)"
    value: 82.0
    unit: "MPa"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66", test: "ISO 527-2", state: "dry as moulded"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 527-2 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Mechanical, Tensile Stress (Yield) row, Dry column"
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: "Tensile stress at yield, Zytel 101L NC010 (conditioned)"
    value: 55.0
    unit: "MPa"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66", test: "ISO 527-2", state: "conditioned"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 527-2 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Mechanical, Tensile Stress (Yield) row, Conditioned column"
  - benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
    label: "Deflection temperature at 1.8 MPa (unannealed), Zytel 101L NC010 (dry)"
    value: 70.0
    unit: "°C"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66", load: "1.8 MPa", test: "ISO 75-2/A", state: "dry as moulded, unannealed"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 75-2/A as printed"
    status: ground
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Thermal, Heat Deflection Temperature, 264 psi (1.8 MPa) Unannealed row"
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: "Melting temperature, Zytel 101L NC010 (dry)"
    value: 262
    unit: "°C"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66", test: "ISO 11357-3", state: "dry"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 11357-3 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Thermal, Melting Temperature row"
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: "Moisture absorption at equilibrium, 23 °C, 50 % RH, Vydyne R533H (33 % glass)"
    value: 1.8
    unit: "%"
    scope: material
    conditions: {grade: "Vydyne R533H, PA66 with 33 % glass fibre, heat stabilised", humidity: "50 % RH", temperature: "23 °C", test: "ISO 62"}
    method: "Typical value printed on the Ascend Vydyne R533H technical data sheet (UL Prospector copy), ISO 62 as printed"
    status: ground
    source: vydyne-r533h-pdf
    where: "Physical, Water Absorption, Equilibrium row"
corrosion:
  - environment: "Continuous heat in air (dry, as-moulded Ultramid A3K)"
    headline: "Heat ageing is set by a temperature index from IEC 60216: 118 °C for 50 % loss of tensile strength at 5000 h, and 101 °C at 20000 h."
    effect: "The BASF product information PDF prints a temperature index of 118 °C after 5000 h and 101 °C after 20000 h for 50 % loss of tensile strength. Tensile strength falls with time at temperature, so the index is a life limit, not a single maximum."
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      basis: "Ultramid A3K uncoloured PA66, IEC 60216 index as printed"
      reference: "BASF Ultramid A3K product information PDF, thermal properties"
    source: basf-a3k-pdf
    where: "Thermal properties table, Temperature index rows at 5000 h and 20000 h"
  - environment: "Heat-stabilised glass-fibre PA66 under long-term heat"
    headline: "A heat-stabilised grade (Vydyne R533H, 33 % glass) is made to resist oxidative and thermal degradation under long exposure, with a continuous use temperature of 275 °F (135 °C)."
    effect: "Ascend states that the heat stabilised version resists oxidation and thermal degradation of the nylon polymer for extended time at high temperature, with continuous operating use at 275 °F and short-term peaks to 475 °F (246 °C). These are the grade's own limits, not a test of unfilled PA66."
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      basis: "Vydyne R533H, 33 % glass-fibre heat stabilised grade"
      reference: "Ascend Vydyne R533H technical data sheet, product description"
    source: vydyne-r533h-pdf
    where: "Product Description, paragraph on heat stabilised version"
  - environment: "Electrical and mechanical relative thermal index (UL 746), heat-stabilised Vydyne R533H"
    headline: "UL relative thermal index, electrical 140 °C at 0.75 to 3.00 mm, mechanical strength 140 °C, impact 125 °C."
    effect: "The UL 746 relative thermal indices printed on the Vydyne R533H sheet give 140 °C for electrical properties and 125 °C for impact at 0.75 mm to 3.00 mm. These are long-term rating values for a glass-filled grade and are not a test of the unfilled A3K grade."
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      basis: "Vydyne R533H, 33 % glass fibre, heat stabilised; RTI values as printed"
      reference: "UL 746 relative thermal index, as printed on the Vydyne technical data sheet"
    source: vydyne-r533h-pdf
    where: "Thermal, RTI Elec, RTI Imp and RTI Str rows"
  - environment: "Standard atmosphere 23 C, 50 % RH, and saturation in water"
    headline: "Water is the main ageing route for dry PA66: the dry-to-conditioned change reduces stiffness and yield."
    effect: "DuPont lists 2.6 % moisture at equilibrium at 50 % RH and 8.5 % at saturation for Zytel 101L NC010 (2.00 mm, 23 C), with 4.2 % after 24 hours at 1.00 mm. Over the same conditioning, the tensile modulus falls from 3100 MPa to 1400 MPa and the yield stress from 82.0 MPa to 55.0 MPa."
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      basis: "Zytel 101L NC010, unreinforced PA66, ISO 62 and ISO 527-2 as printed"
      reference: "DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet, water absorption and mechanical tables"
    source: zytel-101l-pdf
    where: "Physical, Water Absorption rows; Mechanical, Tensile Modulus and Tensile Stress (Yield) rows"
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: "Hexamethylenediamine (monomer, CID 16402): PubChem aggregates 1,248 company reports to the ECHA C&L Inventory. H302 (harmful if swallowed), H312 (harmful in contact with skin), H314 (causes severe skin burns and eye damage) and H335 (may cause respiratory irritation) appear in 100 % or near 100 % of the notifications that give hazard codes, and H318 (causes serious eye damage) in 53.1 %. The signal word is Danger."
      ghs: [H302, H312, H314, H318, H335]
      source: pubchem-hmd
      where: "Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 16402)"
    - text: "Adipic acid (monomer, CID 196): PubChem aggregates 5,531 company reports to the ECHA C&L Inventory. H319 (causes serious eye irritation) appears in 95.6 % of notifications that give hazard codes, with the signal word Warning. Some notifications list Danger with H318 (serious eye damage) and H402 (harmful to aquatic life)."
      ghs: [H319]
      source: pubchem-adipic-acid
      where: "Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 196)"
    - text: "Polyamide 66 polymer: no GHS record or polymer SDS was read for the polymer itself. The datasheet says the product is safe to process under recommended conditions, and that overheating or burning off decomposes it. Use the safety data sheet from the producer."
      ghs: []
      source: basf-a3k-pdf
      where: "Product safety paragraph"
  failure_risks:
    - mode: "Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbit"
      trigger: "Exposure of a polyamide 66 part to atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, as on the MISSE 2 flight"
      consequence: "Surface erosion at a yield of 1.8e-24 cm3/atom as measured on MISSE 2"
      severity: moderate
      source: nasa-tm-2008-215490
      where: "Table I"
    - mode: "Water uptake"
      trigger: "Exposure of the dry grade to humid air or water"
      consequence: "Moisture absorption of 2.8 % at 50 % RH and 8.5 % at saturation, which lowers stiffness and strength in the conditioned state"
      severity: moderate
      source: basf-q601
      where: "Data table, Moisture Absorption at Equilibrium rows, and the conditioned Q603 tensile modulus of 1.2 GPa"
    - mode: "Long-term heat"
      trigger: "Continuous service at elevated temperature in air"
      consequence: "Loss of 50 % of tensile strength at a temperature index of 118 °C after 5000 h, and at 101 °C after 20000 h"
      severity: moderate
      source: basf-a3k-pdf
      where: "Thermal properties table, Temperature index rows"
  side_effects: []
  handling:
    - {text: "Dry the granules before processing. The Q601 page prints a processing moisture content of 0.20 % or less and a drying time of 2 to 4 hours.", source: basf-q601, where: "Processing table, Moisture Content and Dry Time rows"}
    - {text: "Keep the containers closed until processing, and store the granules in dry rooms, because they absorb moisture from the air (BASF Ultramid A3K product information).", source: basf-a3k-pdf, where: "Physical form and storage paragraph"}
  mitigations: []
uses:
  - application: mechanisms
    device: "Gears and bearings"
    example: "BASF describes Ultramid A3K as an easy flowing injection moulding grade for highly stressed technical parts, such as bearings and gear wheels."
    source: basf-a3k-pdf
    where: "Product Information, first paragraph"
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: "Terminals and cable connectors"
    example: "The BASF Ultramid A3K R01 sheet adds electrically insulating parts such as terminals and cable connectors to the bearings and gear wheels applications."
    source: basf-a3k-r01-pdf
    where: "Product Information, first paragraph"
  - application: structures
    device: "Automotive under-the-hood housings and gears (33 % glass)"
    example: "Ascend lists the glass-filled Vydyne R533H grade for automotive under-the-hood housings and gears, with heat stabilised and lubricated versions."
    source: vydyne-r533h-pdf
    where: "General, Uses list"
supply:
  - subject: "Hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid (monomers for nylon 66)"
    demand: "Worldwide nylon 66 production was two million tons in 2011. Fibre markets were 55 % of 2010 demand, with engineering thermoplastics the remainder (Wikipedia)."
    routes: "Nylon 66 is made by polycondensation of equal amounts of hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid in water. Water is removed to drive the reaction to polymer (Wikipedia)."
    producers: []
    critical_lists: []
    substitutes: []
    source: wikipedia-nylon66
    where: "Synthesis; Production"
  - subject: "Adipic acid"
    demand: "About 2.5 million tons produced annually, year not stated (Wikipedia)."
    routes: "Adipic acid is produced by oxidation of a mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (KA oil), with nitric acid as the oxidant (Wikipedia)."
    producers: []
    critical_lists: []
    substitutes: []
    source: wikipedia-adipic-acid
    where: "Production"
media: []
documents:
  - {title: "BASF Ultramid A3K Q601 PA66 (Dry), lookpolymers.com datasheet page", type: database, url: "https://www.lookpolymers.com/polymer_BASF-Ultramid-A3K-Q601-PA66Dry.php"}
  - {title: "BASF Ultramid A3K Q603 PA66 (Conditioned), lookpolymers.com datasheet page", type: database, url: "https://www.lookpolymers.com/polymer_BASF-Ultramid-A3K-Q603-PA66-Conditioned.php"}
  - {title: "BASF Ultramid A3K BK 00464 PA66 (Conditioned), lookpolymers.com datasheet page", type: database, url: "https://www.lookpolymers.com/polymer_BASF-Ultramid-A3K-BK-00464-PA66-Conditioned.php"}
  - {title: "Nylon 66 (PA-66) properties, matmake.com", type: database, url: "https://matmake.com/materials-data/nylon-66-properties.html"}
  - {title: "Banks, de Groh and Backus, Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit, NASA/TM-2008-215490", type: report, url: "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780", year: 2008}
  - {title: "BASF Ultramid A3K product information PDF (09/2026), PA66", type: datasheet, url: "https://download.basf.com/p1/8a8082587fd4b608017fd64108ab6d3b/en/ULTRAMID_A3K_Product_Data_Sheet_Asia_PacificEurope_English.pdf"}
  - {title: "BASF Ultramid A3K R01 product information PDF (02/2026), PA66", type: datasheet, url: "https://download.basf.com/p1/8a8081c57fd4b609017fd6402ca60778/en/ULTRAMID%25C2%25AE_A3K_R01"}
  - {title: "DuPont Performance Polymers Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet, TDS-61076-en (copy on UL Prospector)", type: datasheet, url: "https://Protolabs.com/media/tcebrq5j/zytel-101l.pdf"}
  - {title: "Ascend Performance Materials Vydyne R533H technical data sheet, TDS-10251-en (copy on UL Prospector)", type: datasheet, url: "https://protolabs.com/media/svvnb0w5/vydyne-r533h.pdf"}
  - {title: "PubChem CID 16402, hexamethylenediamine (hexane-1,6-diamine), GHS classification", type: database, url: "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/16402"}
  - {title: "PubChem CID 196, adipic acid, GHS classification", type: database, url: "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/196"}
gaps:
  - "Tensile strength and tensile modulus for the conditioned grade BK 00464 were not recorded: the page is for a different product code from Q601."
  - "No dry-state values were read for the Q603 density; the page does not say whether the density is dry or conditioned, so the 1.14 g/cc value is recorded as printed on the conditioned page."
  - "Melting point 255 °C from matmake.com has no test standard and no dry or conditioned basis, so it is recorded separately from the ISO 3146 value of 260 °C and the ISO 11357-3 value of 262 °C for Zytel."
  - "Heat deflection temperature, impact and modulus values for the conditioned state were not read for the BK 00464 grade."
  - "No CAS number for polyamide 66 and no polymer SDS were read. The formula comes from NASA, and the hazard entries are for the monomers, hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid, from PubChem."
  - "Hydrolysis (water-driven chain scission) data for PA66 were not found in the sources read. Heat ageing is limited to the BASF temperature index and the Vydyne RTI and service-temperature ratings."
  - "Producers of hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid, and their country shares, were not found on a readable page. The Wikipedia pages read name no producers, and the adipic acid volume has no year."
  - "Tyre cord use of nylon 66 was not found in the sources read. Airbag use is in Wikipedia only, and it has no matching application slug in the allowed list, so it is not in the uses list."
  - "The Lanxess Durethan A datasheet PDF could not be found by search: the results were third-party PlaBase entries behind a login. No Durethan values are used."
  - "The Ensinger matweb page returned HTTP 403 in an earlier run, so no Ensinger values are used."
  - "Atomic oxygen erosion yield is one flight value (1.8e-24 cm3/atom) for one MISSE 2 sample. No outgassing, UV or thermal-cycling result for polyamide 66 in space was read in this run."
  - "No water absorption figure is recorded from the matmake.com page, which gives no state or standard for it."
  - "Two properties use names that are not in spores/property-canon.yaml: temperature_index_tensile_50pct_5000h and temperature_index_tensile_50pct_20000h (IEC 60216 index from BASF). The Vydyne RTI values are recorded under corrosion, not as properties."
  - "The Zytel 101L NC010 sheet is an unreinforced grade from DuPont, which Celanese now supplies (per UL Prospector). Its values are recorded as printed for that grade."
sources:
  basf-q601:
    title: "BASF Ultramid A3K Q601 PA66 (Dry), datasheet page"
    id: "lookpolymers.com datasheet page, Q601 (Dry)"
    url: https://www.lookpolymers.com/polymer_BASF-Ultramid-A3K-Q601-PA66Dry.php
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: third-party datasheet page, linked not reproduced
  basf-q603:
    title: "BASF Ultramid A3K Q603 PA66 (Conditioned), datasheet page"
    id: "lookpolymers.com datasheet page, Q603 (Conditioned)"
    url: https://www.lookpolymers.com/polymer_BASF-Ultramid-A3K-Q603-PA66-Conditioned.php
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: third-party datasheet page, linked not reproduced
  basf-bk00464:
    title: "BASF Ultramid A3K BK 00464 PA66 (Conditioned), datasheet page"
    id: "lookpolymers.com datasheet page, BK 00464 (Conditioned)"
    url: https://www.lookpolymers.com/polymer_BASF-Ultramid-A3K-BK-00464-PA66-Conditioned.php
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: third-party datasheet page, linked not reproduced
  matmake-pa66:
    title: "Nylon 66 (PA-66) properties, matmake.com"
    id: "matmake.com materials data page, nylon 66"
    url: https://matmake.com/materials-data/nylon-66-properties.html
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: web page, linked not reproduced
  nasa-tm-2008-215490:
    title: "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit"
    id: "NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, de Groh and Backus, 2008), NTRS 20090011780"
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
    year: 2008
    kind: report
    license: NASA public document
  basf-a3k-pdf:
    title: "BASF Ultramid A3K product information, PA66 (09/2026), Asia Pacific and Europe English"
    id: "download.basf.com product data sheet, Ultramid A3K"
    url: https://download.basf.com/p1/8a8082587fd4b608017fd64108ab6d3b/en/ULTRAMID_A3K_Product_Data_Sheet_Asia_PacificEurope_English.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: datasheet
    license: manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced
  basf-a3k-r01-pdf:
    title: "BASF Ultramid A3K R01 product information, PA66 (02/2026)"
    id: "download.basf.com product data sheet, Ultramid A3K R01"
    url: https://download.basf.com/p1/8a8081c57fd4b609017fd6402ca60778/en/ULTRAMID%25C2%25AE_A3K_R01
    year: 2026
    kind: datasheet
    license: manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced
  zytel-101l-pdf:
    title: "DuPont Performance Polymers Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet, TDS-61076-en"
    id: "UL Prospector copy of TDS-61076-en, document created 3 May 2018"
    url: https://Protolabs.com/media/tcebrq5j/zytel-101l.pdf
    year: 2018
    kind: datasheet
    license: manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced
  vydyne-r533h-pdf:
    title: "Ascend Performance Materials Vydyne R533H technical data sheet, TDS-10251-en"
    id: "UL Prospector copy of Vydyne R533H, document created 1 July 2014"
    url: https://protolabs.com/media/svvnb0w5/vydyne-r533h.pdf
    year: 2014
    kind: datasheet
    license: manufacturer datasheet, linked not reproduced
  wikipedia-nylon66:
    title: "Nylon 66, Wikipedia"
    id: "en.wikipedia.org, Nylon 66"
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon_66
    year: 2026
    kind: web
    license: CC-BY-SA, linked not reproduced
  wikipedia-adipic-acid:
    title: "Adipic acid, Wikipedia"
    id: "en.wikipedia.org, Adipic acid"
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adipic_acid
    year: 2026
    kind: web
    license: CC-BY-SA, linked not reproduced
  pubchem-hmd:
    title: "PubChem CID 16402, hexane-1,6-diamine (hexamethylenediamine), GHS classification"
    id: "PubChem CID 16402"
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/16402
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: public domain, linked not reproduced
  pubchem-adipic-acid:
    title: "PubChem CID 196, hexanedioic acid (adipic acid), GHS classification"
    id: "PubChem CID 196"
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/196
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: public domain, linked not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: "2026-10-19"
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 34
  unreachable: 2
  caveats: 6
  note: "Deepen pass on 2026-10-19 by an AI assistant. Kept the 20 existing properties and 5 existing sources. Added 14 properties from the BASF Ultramid A3K product information PDF (09/2026), the DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 technical data sheet and the Ascend Vydyne R533H technical data sheet (both read via curl and pdftotext from UL Prospector copies). Added recipe, supply, heat and water ageing (corrosion), uses, hazards from PubChem (REST API, CIDs 16402 and 196), and 8 new sources. Unreachable: the Lanxess Durethan A datasheet PDF (not found by search) and the Ensinger matweb page (HTTP 403). The PubChem web page returned a browser check, so the hazard data come from the PubChem REST API. Computed values, not from a fetched page: repeat-unit atomic shares C 63.7 %, H 9.8 %, N 12.4 %, O 14.1 % by mass from C12H22N2O2 with standard atomic weights; monomer shares of the charge HMD 44.3 % and adipic acid 55.7 % by mass from PubChem molecular weights (116.20 and 146.14), and water lost is 2 x 18.02 g/mol."

story:
  recipe:
    line: "Polyamide 66 is made by polycondensation of equal amounts of hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid in water. Water is removed to drive the reaction to polymer (Wikipedia). The repeat unit, -[NH-(CH2)6-NH-CO-(CH2)4-CO]-, is C12H22N2O2 (NASA Table IV; repeat-unit mass computed from standard atomic weights). Its elemental shares by mass are C 63.7 %, H 9.8 %, N 12.4 % and O 14.1 %."
    parts:
      - name: Carbon
        symbol: C
        atoms: 12
        atomic_weight: 12.011
        share: "63.7 %"
        role: "Backbone of the repeat unit: six CH2 groups and two carbonyl carbons."
      - name: Hydrogen
        symbol: H
        atoms: 22
        atomic_weight: 1.008
        share: "9.8 %"
        role: "Methylene and amide hydrogens of the repeat unit."
      - name: Nitrogen
        symbol: "N"
        atoms: 2
        atomic_weight: 14.007
        share: "12.4 %"
        role: "Amide nitrogens. Hydrogen bonds between chains give the crystalline structure."
      - name: Oxygen
        symbol: "O"
        atoms: 2
        atomic_weight: 15.999
        share: "14.1 %"
        role: "Carbonyl oxygens of the amide groups."
      - name: Hexamethylenediamine
        symbol: C6H16N2
        atoms: 1
        molar_mass: 116.20
        share: "44.3 % of the monomer charge by mass (computed)"
        role: "Diamine monomer. Its amine groups react with the acid groups of adipic acid (PubChem CID 16402)."
      - name: Adipic acid
        symbol: C6H10O4
        atoms: 1
        molar_mass: 146.14
        share: "55.7 % of the monomer charge by mass (computed)"
        role: "Diacid monomer. Water is released at each amide bond formed (PubChem CID 196)."
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      lead: "The monomers are the hazard to watch. Hexamethylenediamine is harmful and corrosive in PubChem's aggregate. The polymer SDS was not read."
      level: 1
      verdict: "Dry before processing; treat the monomers as corrosive"
      points:
        - label: Handling
          line: "The Q601 page prints a processing moisture content of 0.2 % or less and a drying time of 2 to 4 hours."
        - label: Monomers
          line: "Hexamethylenediamine carries Danger with H314 (severe skin burns and eye damage) in the PubChem aggregate. Adipic acid carries Warning with H319 (serious eye irritation)."
    - title: If it fails
      lead: "The failure routes in these sources are water uptake, heat ageing and erosion in orbit."
      points:
        - label: Water
          line: "The dry grade takes up 2.8 % moisture at 50 % RH and 8.5 % at saturation, and the conditioned Q603 grade has a tensile modulus of 1.2 GPa."
        - label: Heat
          line: "BASF prints a temperature index of 118 °C for 50 % loss of tensile strength after 5000 h, and 101 °C after 20000 h."
        - label: Atomic oxygen
          line: "On MISSE 2 the erosion yield was 1.8e-24 cm3/atom, as listed in NASA TM-2008-215490."
  why: >-
    Polyamide 66 is a semicrystalline engineering thermoplastic. BASF Ultramid A3K is read here as a dry grade (Q601), with a density of 1.13 g/cc,
    a tensile modulus of 3 GPa and a melting point of 260 °C, and as a conditioned variant (Q603), with a density of 1.14 g/cc and a tensile modulus
    of 1.2 GPa. The gap between the two states is the main thing to read in the table.
  uses:
    - where: Gears and bearings
      line: "BASF says Ultramid A3K is used for highly stressed technical parts, such as bearings and gear wheels (BASF product information PDF)."
    - where: Terminals and cable connectors
      line: "The BASF Ultramid A3K R01 sheet adds electrically insulating terminals and cable connectors to its applications."
    - where: Automotive housings
      line: "Ascend lists the glass-filled Vydyne R533H grade for automotive under-the-hood housings and gears. This is a 33 % glass composite, not the unfilled grade."
    - where: Airbags and tyre cord
      line: "Wikipedia says nylon 66 is also used in airbags. No tyre cord use for nylon 66 was read in the sources, so it is not claimed here."
  can_do:
    - label: Stiff when dry
      value: 3 GPa tensile modulus
      line: >-
        The Q601 dry grade has a tensile modulus of 3 GPa, a yield stress of 85 MPa and a flexural modulus of 2.9 GPa, all ISO values printed on the datasheet page.
    - label: Hold heat under load
      value: 75 °C at 1.8 MPa
      benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
      line: >-
        The Q601 page prints a deflection temperature of 75 °C at 1.8 MPa (ISO 75), and a melting point of 260 °C (ISO 3146).
    - label: Survive in orbit
      value: 1.8e-24 cm3/atom
      benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
      line: >-
        NASA lists a MISSE 2 erosion yield for polyamide 66 of 1.8e-24 cm3/atom in Table I, from a flight sample exposed for 3.95 years.
  compare: >-
    The Q601 dry and Q603 conditioned rows are the same grade in two states, so they show what moisture changes. The DuPont Zytel 101L NC010 sheet, an unreinforced PA66, gives 3100 MPa dry and 1400 MPa conditioned, close to the Q601 and Q603 pair, and 2.6 % equilibrium moisture at 50 % RH against 2.8 % for Q601. The Vydyne R533H row is a 33 % glass composite, so its 1.8 % moisture is an example of how glass lowers water uptake, not a rank. The matmake.com value and the BK 00464 row are different grades or bases, and are read as examples, not as a ranking.
  compare_rows:
    - scope: material
      label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - scope: material
      label: Tensile modulus, dry
      benchmark: tensile_modulus
    - scope: material
      label: Moisture absorption at saturation
      benchmark: moisture_absorption
    - scope: material
      label: Erosion yield in LEO flight
      benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
  handling:
    - Specify dry or conditioned. The tensile modulus falls from 3 GPa dry to 1.2 GPa in the conditioned Q603 grade.
    - Dry the granules before moulding to 0.2 % moisture or less, as the Q601 page prints.
    - Treat the datasheet values as typical values, as the pages state, and not as specification limits.
  good_for:
    - "Stiff moulded parts in the dry state: 3 GPa tensile modulus and 85 MPa yield stress (BASF Q601)."
    - "Heat resistance under load: 75 °C at 1.8 MPa and a melting point of 260 °C (BASF Q601)."
    - "Gears, bearings, terminals and cable connectors, as the BASF product information lists (BASF A3K and A3K R01)."
    - "A known flight result: 1.8e-24 cm3/atom erosion yield on MISSE 2 in low Earth orbit (NASA)."
  watch_out:
    - "Water: 8.5 % moisture at saturation (dry grade) drops the tensile modulus to 1.2 GPa in the conditioned Q603 grade."
    - "Heat: the temperature index for 50 % tensile loss is 118 °C at 5000 h and 101 °C at 20000 h, so long-life parts need a lower service temperature."
    - "Atomic oxygen erodes polyamide 66 at 1.8e-24 cm3/atom, so exterior use needs protection or a rate allowance."
    - "The MISSE 2 result is one flight sample. No outgassing, UV or hydrolysis result for polyamide 66 was read in these sources."
  verdict: "Polyamide 66 is a stiff engineering plastic in the dry state, with a tensile modulus of 3 GPa, a deflection temperature of 75 °C at 1.8 MPa and a melting point of 260 °C, as printed on the BASF Q601 datasheet page. Water is the main limit: the conditioned grade has a tensile modulus of 1.2 GPa. BASF's temperature index of 118 °C at 5000 h gives a heat-life limit. Its MISSE 2 erosion yield of 1.8e-24 cm3/atom is one flight value, and no sourced outgassing, UV or hydrolysis values were found."