Overview
Perlon is the brand name coined in 1938 by chemist Paul Schlack at IG Farben for the first German polyamide 6 synthetic fibre - the German counterpart to the American Nylon developed shortly before. Originally developed for textile fibres, above all for stockings and parachutes, Perlon remains an actively registered trademark today. Chemically, however, it is nothing other than polyamide 6 (PA 6) - the same semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic that Liedtke already carries as technical semi-finished product (sheets, round rods) under the designation PA 6.
Perlon/PA 6 is characterised by high toughness, impact and abrasion resistance, very good sliding properties and pronounced sound and vibration damping. As with all polyamides, moisture absorption increases toughness but reduces stiffness and hardness, and changes dimensions. Compared with our listed cast polyamide PA 6 G (e.g. Ertalon), Perlon/PA 6 is an extruded material - more economical, though with somewhat higher internal stress in large cross-sections.
Perlon/PA 6 is worthwhile when toughness, wear resistance and good sliding properties are required at a moderate price - for example in highly loaded plain bearings, bushings, gears and rollers, impact- and shock-loaded parts, sound- and vibration-damping components, and in food processing (meat, fish and poultry processing, bakery and confectionery; food-grade types available).
Technical Data
| Property | Value | Test Standard |
|---|---|---|
| General Properties | ||
| Density | 1.14 g/cm³ | DIN EN ISO 1183-1 |
| Moisture absorption | 3.0 % | DIN EN ISO 62 |
| Flammability (3 mm / 6 mm) | HB / HB | UL 94 |
| Mechanical Properties | ||
| Yield stress | 80 MPa | DIN EN ISO 527 |
| Elongation at break | 50 % | DIN EN ISO 527 |
| Tensile modulus | 3200 MPa | DIN EN ISO 527 |
| Notched impact strength | 3 kJ/m² | DIN EN ISO 179 |
| Shore hardness | 82 scale D | DIN EN ISO 868 |
| Thermal Properties | ||
| Melting temperature | 220 °C | ISO 11357-3 |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.23 W/(m·K) | DIN 52612-1 |
| Specific heat capacity | 1.70 kJ/(kg·K) | DIN 52612 |
| Coefficient of linear expansion | 90 · 10⁻⁶/K | DIN 53752 |
| Long-term service temperature | -40 … 85 °C | Average |
| Short-term max. service temperature | 160 °C | Average |
| Heat deflection temperature | 75 °C | DIN EN ISO 75, Method A, HDT |
| Electrical Properties | ||
| Dielectric constant | 3.9 | IEC 60250 |
| Dissipation factor (50 Hz) | 0.02 | IEC 60250 |
| Volume resistivity | 10¹⁵ Ω·cm | DIN EN 62631-3-1 |
| Surface resistivity | 10¹³ Ω | DIN EN 62631-3-2 |
| Dielectric strength | 20 kV/mm | IEC 60243 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Perlon PA6
1What is Perlon PA6?+
Perlon is the brand name coined in 1938 by chemist Paul Schlack at IG Farben for the first German polyamide 6 synthetic fibre - the German counterpart to American Nylon - and remains an actively registered trademark today. Chemically it is polyamide 6 (PA 6), the same semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic that Liedtke also carries as PA 6 semi-finished stock.
2How does Liedtke machine Perlon PA6?+
PA 6 machines well - turning, milling, drilling and sawing produce clean results with good surface finish. Because of moisture absorption and comparatively high thermal expansion, we account for swelling and shrinkage behaviour at tight tolerances and condition the semi-finished product if required.
3What determines the price of a Perlon PA6 part?+
PA 6 is one of the more economical engineering plastics; as a rough guide, semi-finished product prices (natural round rod/sheet) are in the region of about €5-15/kg. The component price is determined mainly by grade, shape and dimensions of the semi-finished product, material utilisation, machining effort and batch size. We are happy to provide binding prices on request based on your drawing.
4When is Perlon PA6 not the right choice?+
For the highest dimensional stability under fluctuating humidity, POM is often the better choice. For continuous contact with hot water/steam or strong acids, continuous use above approx. 85-100 °C, or very high chemical or temperature requirements, PVDF, PPS or PEEK are more suitable.
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