Polyamide 6,6 reinforced with 30% glass fiber (PA66-GF30) is an advanced engineering composite designed to provide high mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and heat resistance. The integration of glass fibers into the polyamide matrix enhances its stiffness, tensile strength, and wear resistance, making it ideal for demanding structural and thermal applications in automotive, aerospace, and electrical industries.
Material Overview
Glass fiber reinforcement dramatically enhances the mechanical and thermal performance of PA66. Mouhmid et al. (2006) demonstrated that short glass fiber reinforcement increases tensile strength, stiffness, and creep resistance by over 50% compared to unfilled PA66, while maintaining structural integrity under cyclic loading. The material exhibits temperature-dependent mechanical properties: stiffness and tensile strength rise with fiber content but decrease slightly at elevated temperatures. Khan and Mushtaq (2021) confirmed that a 30 wt.% glass fiber composition achieves the best balance between strength and processability, with tensile and flexural strength improvements exceeding 60%. Similarly, Demirci and Düzcüko?lu (2014) observed that combining PA66 with 20% glass fiber and 25% PTFE yields optimal wear performance in journal bearings, reducing the friction coefficient by 25% compared to unfilled PA66. Furthermore, Popescu et al. (2018) showed that extrusion temperature directly affects fiber dispersion and interfacial bonding, influencing overall composite strength and shrinkage behavior.
Applications and Advantages
PA66-GF30 offers superior performance in high-load, high-temperature environments. It is widely used in under-the-hood automotive parts such as intake manifolds, rocker covers, and fan housings. In mechanical systems, it is employed in gears, bearings, and structural supports due to its low creep and excellent wear resistance. Kumar and Panneerselvam (2016) reported that increasing glass fiber content up to 30 wt.% reduces specific wear rate by more than 40%, confirming its suitability for abrasive and high-friction environments. The material also demonstrates low thermal expansion and high dimensional stability, essential for precision components in electronics and electrical insulation systems.
Goodfellow Availability
Goodfellow supplies Polyamide 6,6 - 30% Glass Fiber Reinforced (PA66-GF30) sheets for research and industrial use. Each product is manufactured to ensure uniform fiber distribution and consistent surface finish. Custom thicknesses, formulations, and reinforcement ratios can be provided to meet specific engineering or testing requirements.
Explore Polyamide - Nylon 6,6 - 30% Glass Fiber Reinforced and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.
References
- Mouhmid, B., Imad, A., Benseddiq, N., Benmedakhene, S., & Maazouz, A. (2006). A study of the mechanical behaviour of a glass fibre reinforced polyamide 6,6: Experimental investigation. Polymer Testing, 25(4), 544–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.POLYMERTESTING.2006.03.008
- Khan, R. M., & Mushtaq, A. (2021). Effect of reinforced glass fibre on the mechanical properties of polyamide. Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 64(1), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.52763/PJSIR.PHYS.SCI.64.1.2021.10.18
- Demirci, M. T., & Düzcüko?lu, H. (2014). Wear behaviors of polytetrafluoroethylene and glass fiber reinforced polyamide 66 journal bearings. Materials & Design, 56, 70–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATDES.2014.01.013
- Kumar, S., & Panneerselvam, K. (2016). Two-body abrasive wear behavior of Nylon 6 and glass fiber reinforced Nylon 6 composites. Procedia Technology, 25, 1033–1040. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PROTCY.2016.08.228
- Popescu, A., Hancu, L., & Sabau, E. (2018). Effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of extrusion glass fiber reinforced polyamide 6.6 composites. Technical University of Cluj-Napoca Conference Proceedings.