3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA aramid vs PA blend

Compare printing settings, strength, heat resistance, dated prices and sources.

Aramid-fibre nylon guidePA6/66 copolymer blends guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA aramid comparisonsMore PA blend comparisons
PA aramid vs PA blend — documented properties and sources
PropertyAramid-fibre nylonPAPA6/66 copolymer blendsPA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshotsNot documented$65.62/kg median; $62.00–$113.33/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryAramid-fibre reinforced polyamide[1]PA6/66 copolymer — a nylon alloy that lowers the melting point and improves printability against straight PA6[2][3]
Densityg/cm³Not documented1.12 (ISO 1183, Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 65[4][5][6]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented62–113 across brands; add:north Adura 62, PrimaCreator NylonPower PA6/66 65 at 500 g, Polymaker CoPA 67, 3DXTech AmideX Nylon 6-66 113[4][7][5][6]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide — no aramid-filled nylon filament was found in any catalogue searched; the aramid filaments that do exist in the retail market use an ASA matrix[4][7]Available from several mainstream brands[4][7]
Spool sizes & diametersNot documented1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[4][7][5][6]
Typical applicationsNot documentedGeneral-purpose nylon parts and, unusually, CoPA can support itself if the support is removed before it absorbs moisture[2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented250–270 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Bed temperature°CNot documented25–50 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive) — as for every nylon[1]Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker specifies a chamber at ambient temperature[2]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented16 at Polymaker's 200 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[2][8]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Not documentedAdvanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; must be kept below 20 % RH throughout[2][9]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required — no aramid-filled nylon datasheet was obtainable; Polymaker measures about 9 h of brass nozzle life on its fibre-filled nylons[10]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[1]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — fibre-reinforced nylon composite[10]Non-abrasive when unfilled[1]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; nylon already needs a drybox and Prusa names kevlar among the fibres that raise nozzle-clogging risk[11]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup[12][9]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Very high (>2 %) — the polyamide matrix governs uptake[9]Very high (>2 %) — Polymaker's own wet-state specimens reached 6.16 % moisture content after 48 h immersion at 60 °C[2][9]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented100 °C for 8 h (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedPopping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[12]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker's printed dry-versus-wet blocks for its CoPA nylon show what conditioning does to the family: tensile 78.0 → 34.3 MPa and modulus 2703 → 724 MPa, with notched Charpy rising 6.9 → 27.7 kJ/m². Fibre reinforcement reduces but does not remove the effect[2][12]Measured dry against wet on printed specimens at 6.16 % moisture (Polymaker CoPA): tensile 78.0 → 34.3 MPa, Young's modulus 2703 → 724 MPa, flexural strength 109.8 → 22.6 MPa, while notched Charpy rises 6.9 → 27.7 kJ/m² and elongation 12.7 → 13.2 %[2][12]
Storage requirementNot documentedPolymaker states CoPA must always be stored and used below 20 % relative humidity[2]
Hydrolysis at melt temperatureNot documentedPolymaker requires a 100 °C dry for 8 h and storage below 20 % RH; no molecular-weight loss figure is published, and the published wet data is conditioning rather than melt hydrolysis[2][13]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented78.0 ± 0.7 printed XY dry and 34.3 ± 2.5 wet, ISO 527 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented2703 ± 259 printed XY dry and 724 ± 61 wet, ISO 527 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Elongation at break%Not documented12.7 ± 2.1 printed XY dry and 13.2 ± 2.3 wet, ISO 527 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented109.8 ± 1.3 printed XY dry and 22.6 ± 0.5 wet, ISO 178 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented2510 ± 25 printed XY dry and 636 ± 11 wet, ISO 178 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented6.9 ± 1.4 printed XY dry and 27.7 ± 1.2 wet, ISO 179 notched (Polymaker CoPA) — impact quadruples when conditioned[2]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented45.8 ± 1.5 printed Z dry, falling to 13.7 ± 1.2 wet, ISO 527 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Brittleness1–5Not documentedTough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedShore D 86 and Rockwell 85 (108) — the source does not name the scales on extruded unfilled PA66 stock (ASTM D2240, D785)[14]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedExcellent — living hinges viable[1]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Not documentedSemi-flexible[12]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented59 dry (45.8 Z against 78.0 XY) and 40 wet, printed[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented111 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Polymaker CoPA)[2]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented70 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented66 (DSC, Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented189 melting (DSC); Vicat 180, crystallisation 148, decomposition 370 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Annealing responseNot documented80 °C for 6 h (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented81.0 on extruded unfilled PA66 stock (ASTM D696; source states 4.5e-5 in/in/°F) — the same chemistry as a PA6/66 copolymer[14]
Environment & Chemical
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedAbsorbs water, properties shift — 6.16 % uptake cost 56 % of tensile strength and 73 % of modulus[2]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[15]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[15]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[15]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon; total VOC reached nearly 200 µg/min, the highest of the nine filaments tested[15]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[15]≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[15]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[15]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[15]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[15]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[15]
Post-Processing
Support material pairingNot documentedCoPA can support itself, but Polymaker warns the support bonds permanently if it absorbs moisture before removal[2]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[16]Dissolved at 23 °C by formic acid above ~50 %, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — laboratory reagents.[16]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[16]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack it — 10 % marginal, 37 % not resistant; alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it.[16]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[16]None — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[16]

Material entries describe families or representative grades, not an interchangeable specification for every spool. Test methods, orientations and conditions may differ. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  2. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  3. AmideX Nylon 6-66 — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. add:north Adura product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. PrimaCreator SELECT NylonPower PA6/66 product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  9. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  10. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  11. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. PolyMide CoPA — Technical Data Sheet page Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  14. TECAMID 66 natural (PA66) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  15. Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments (Azimi et al.) Environmental Science & Technology 50(3) 1260-1268 · 2016-01 · paper
  16. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds