E-PA nylon foam molding
// Foamed nylon beads carry loads no other foam on this site approaches, resist fuel, engine oil and lubricants, and hold their dimensions at 150°C. It is the material for a structural part in the engine bay — and the hardest one to foam, which is exactly why most supplier catalogues leave it out.
The figures on this page are published industry and supplier values for this material family, not measured DBM product data — we do not have our own grade-level test results for E-PA yet. They are accurate enough to size a part and to rule options in or out. Final numbers are confirmed by us in writing against your part before you commit to anything.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Molded density | 150–600 kg/m³, adjustable | ✅ |
| Compression strength | 0.4 MPa at 75 ±10 kg/m³ (research value); up to about 8.7 MPa at the top of the density range | 📐 |
| Heat resistance | 150°C with a 100 g load for 2 h — 3% dimensional change; long-term about 130°C | 📐 |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent in contact with fuel, engine oil and lubricants, per the resin supplier | ✅ |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.047 W/(m·K) | 📊 |
| Foam structure | Isotropic — mechanical properties equal in every direction; closed cell gives crash-relevant compression strength | ✅ |
| Base polymer | PA6 or PA66, supercritical foaming | — |
| Weather resistance | Amide bonds hydrolyse and absorb moisture — outdoors is the weak point of nylon; modifiable | 📐 |
| Tensile / elongation / tear / water absorption / hardness | No public figure — we request it with your enquiry | ⬜ |
Reference commercial grades
| Grade | Supplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ultramid® Expand | BASF | Pre-expanded PA6 beads, weldable into 3D parts with no foam scrap |
Structural parts around the engine bay
Heat, oil and vibration in one place.
Heavy-industry vibration damping
Load capacity an order above the polyolefin foams.
Crash-relevant components
A closed-cell isotropic structure holds up in every direction.
Why we can run it
// High foaming temperature, low melt strength and a narrow window — the recognised reasons a standard machine cannot run it. One note in fairness: BASF states Ultramid Expand was designed to run on conventional EPP equipment, which is one of its selling points, while general-purpose PA66 supercritical foaming remains constrained. We confirm which case applies to your grade before quoting.