Carbon Fiber PA6 — Quick Facts

Published: June 23, 2025

PA6-CF offers significant advantages over metals in applications where low weight, moderate temperatures and pressures, resistance to oxidation, and low cost are key. It is an ideal choice for designs that require durability and precision without the added mass or corrosion concerns of steel or aluminum.

Key Properties

• Max service temperature: 186 °C
• Tensile strength: 151 MPa
• Young’s modulus (stiffness): 6 GPa
• Weight vs steel: at least 7x lighter (depends on infill)
• Weight vs aluminum: at least 2.7x lighter (depends on infill)
• Dimensional stability: Low warping, precise tolerances
• Surface finish: Matte carbon fiber look
• Pressure resistance (structural use): Suitable for medium-pressure use (depends on part design and thickness)
• Ideal for: functional parts, high-strength hardware, firearms, drones, automobiles

Environmental and Health Concerns

• Main concern: Caprolactam, formerly on EPA's HAP list but removed in 1996. Still a VOC, but not currently of major concern with regards to adverse health effects
• Regarding other regulated pollutants: PM, O₃, CO, SO₂, NOx, and Pb — minimal concern
• Sustainability: Not typically recyclable

*Sources: Bambu Labs, Engineering ToolBox, EPA*