Nylon
Sustainability Data Sheet
Introduction
Nylon is commonly used in the automotive industry due to its high heat resistance and good resistance to oils and fuels. However, with its well-balanced mechanical properties and suitability for being glass filled it can be used throughout multiple applications.
Typical Properties
Density: 1.14 g/m3
Melt index: N/A
Melting point: Melting point: 220 °C (PA6), 268°C (PA6.6)
Notched Izod impact strength (rigid moulding / extrusion): 5 – 120 kJ/m2 (@ 23°C)
Flexural modulus unfilled (rigid moulding / extrusion): 1 – 3.2 GPa
Flexural modulus 30% glass filled (rigid moulding / extrusion): 6 – 9 GPa
Carbon footprint data (NB: cradle-to-gate)
Material
kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per kg of resin
Typical density (g/cm3)
Ref
PA6
6.7
1.14
4
PA6.6
6.4
1.14
4
PA6.6 + 30% GF
8.1
1.36
4
rPA6.6*
0.37
1.14
5
HDPE
1.9
0.955
2
Paper
2.42
1.2
1
Glass
4.4
2.5
1
Aluminium
8.14
2.7
1
*This is a specific value taken from a radici polymers grade and not an industry average.
Recycling
No kerbside collection but nylon is fully recyclable and pre-consumer grades are often available and sourced from fibre industry waste. Post-consumer grades are typically sourced from automotive waste.
Biodegradability & compostability
Nylon is not biodegradable or compostable.
Bio-sourced
PA6 and PA6.6 are not bio-sourced. However, there are nylon variants such as PA6.10, PA6.11 and PA6.12 which can contain a large portion of bio-sourced content.
Material solutions for sustainability
Industrial recycled grades:
Typically, these are grades recycled from industries such as the fibre industry.
Post-consumer recycled grades:
Because nylon is often used for long lifespan applications, post-consumer recycled material isn’t as readily available as commodity polymers. One of the major sources of recycled nylon is the automotive industry.
PA6.10, PA6.11 and PA6.12
These Nylon variations can contain a large proportion of renewable and/or bio-sourced content.
Designing for sustainability
Metal replacement or higher engineering polymers replacement:
As higher heat resistance and higher stiffness grades are constantly being developed, more applications open up where nylon can replace higher CO2e and higher density materials.
Although glass filled grades do have a higher CO2e figure they also have vastly increased stiffness: if component stiffness is the primary requirement, then less material can be used with glass filled grades leading to CO2 savings.
With Nylon often being used in automotive and transport applications, any weight reduction can lead to additional CO2 savings in the lifespan of the product by lowering the weight of the vehicle.
Products available from Plastribution
Type
Manufacturer
Product
Radici
Heramid Grades
Post-consumer recycled Nylon
Radici
ReNycle Grades
Bi-sourced content grades
Radici
Radilon PA6.10
References
- https://www.winnipeg.ca/finance/findata/matmgt/documents/2012/682-2012/682-2012_Appendix_H-WSTP_South_End_Plant_Process_Selection_Report/Appendix%207.pdf
- Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Inventory of Nine Plastic Resins & Four Polyurethane Precursors – The Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council & Franklin Associates – August 2011 (Table AD-3)
- Carbon footprint of plastic from biomass and recycled feedstock: methodological insights
- https://plasticseurope.org/sustainability/circularity/life-cycle-thinking/eco-profiles-set/
- https://www.radicigroup.com/en/documentation/certification/plastics#Pro
