Also known as Nylon-6, PA6 is made from a single monomer called caprolactam (or 6-amino-caproic acid) and is used in a wide range of industries and products including parachutes, toothbrushes, tents, ropes, textiles, carpets, industrial fibres, engineering plastics and film. Due to its excellent properties and its pricing, Nylon-6 is the material of choice for many consumer goods and industrial applications.
Applications
Nylon-6 is used everyday and everywhere because it is a versatile and exciting material, unrivalled in its number of applications.
Technical fibres. Nylon-6 can be used in a variety of technical and industrial fibres including tire cord (where it accounts for the largest share of synthetic reinforcement of heavy-duty tires in the world), ropes, nets, fishing lines, tarpaulins, machine-covers, safety belts, air bags, mechanical rubber goods, etc.
Engineering plastics. Nylon-6 can be found in a number of engineering plastic applications including air intake manifolds, automotive under the hood parts, wheel caps, seat belt and airbag parts, chairs, relay boxes and stadium seats. Nylon-6 also can be used as a compounded material, reinforced with glass fiber, glass bead or minerals.
Film. PA6 is used for films in the food packaging, industrial packaging and medical industries.
Textiles. PA6 is used a large variety of textiles and clothing including hosiery, lingerie, sportswear, swimwear, casual wear, fashion wear and socks. It can also be found in umbrellas, luggage, tents, parachutes, sleeping bags and so on. Textiles made from Nylon-6:
- can be dyed easily at atmospheric pressure in multiple designs and colours.
- are lighter weight but strong.
Carpets, rugs and home textiles. Nylon-6 based carpets and rugs made with are aesthetic, comfortable and durable. They have excellent properties including:
- Superior appearance retention due to a high resilience.
- Excellent resistance to wear, crushing and matting due to a high tenacity and abrasion resistance.
- Excellent dirt resistance.
- Easy to clean and to maintain.
- Unlimited styling capability and colour versatility.
- Easy to dye with low energy in beautiful colours.
- Environment friendly; low production energy and 100% recyclable.
