Polyamide with low water absorption Examid PA610 H120M

Description

Examid® PA610 H120M is an injection-molding grade of polyamide 6.10 with reduced water absorption and high melt flow for injection moulding. Designation: H — high flow, 120 — melt flow indicator (MFR in the 100–120 g/10 min range at 270 °C / 5 kg), M — moulding/modified. The PA610 base molecule is ~40 % bio-based (sebacic acid from castor oil).

It is positioned between PA6 (cheaper, but with 9 % water absorption) and PA12 (more expensive, with 1.5 % water absorption) — offering ~3 % water absorption at saturation (3 times lower than PA6) at a cost only 20–40 % above PA6. The high melt flow is optimized for thin-wall molding of complex geometry — typically long flow paths and thin walls of cable ties, technical housings and guides.

It replaces the Soviet-era PA 610-L (OST 6-11-498-79) in applications where a transition to EN/ISO specifications is possible while the low-water-absorption requirement remains. It is compatible with designs developed for legacy PA610, but with modern batch quality control and property consistency.

Typical parameters: density ~1.08 g/cm³, MFR ~100–120 g/10 min, water absorption ~3 % at saturation (vs ~9 % for PA6 and ~8 % for PA66), Tm 220 °C, HDT/A ~80–95 °C (ISO 75-2, 1.8 MPa), continuous service temperature up to 100 °C, notched Charpy impact strength 5–8 kJ/m² at 23 °C (ISO 179-1eA), with 60–70 % retained at −30 °C. UL 94 HB / V-2 depending on the batch.

Key advantages

• Water absorption ~3 % (3 times lower than PA6) — dimensional and mechanical stability in humid environments, hot water and hydraulic circuits
• High melt flow (MFR ~100–120) — filling of thin-walled parts with complex geometry, long flow paths
• Bio-based origin (~40 % of the carbon from castor oil) — ESG labeling, reduced Scope 3 carbon footprint
• Good resistance to oils, gasoline, diesel fuel, glycols, automotive fluids, dilute acids and alkalis
• Fungus resistance plus resistance to UV and X-ray radiation — suitable for long-term outdoor service
• Retention of impact strength at low temperatures
• Electrical insulation properties remain stable in humid environments (PA610 offers the best property retention on moisture uptake among standard PAs)
• A reliable replacement for legacy PA610-L (OST 6-11-498-79) in series applications

Limitations

• UL 94 HB / V-2 in the standard version — not for FR-critical applications; separate PA610 FR grades are available for V-0
• PA610 is not transparent (semi-crystalline, opaque beige-milky color) — for transparent PA applications see PA12 Grilamid TR or transparent copolyamides
• Stiffness and heat resistance are lower than PA66 (modulus ~2.1 vs 2.9 GPa, HDT/A ~85 vs 100 °C) — for high stiffness see PA66
• Costs 20–40 % more than PA6 — justified only in applications where water absorption is critical

Applications

• Outdoor cable ties and sheathing: outdoor cable ties, cable clamps for photovoltaic systems, telecommunications and outdoor electrical equipment
• Household appliances with hot-water contact: structural components of washing machines and dishwashers, coffee machine components (pumps, fittings), steam generators
• Automotive under-hood components: cooling system parts, pipes, thermostat housings, intercooler components — where PA6/PA66 hydrolyzes in glycol
• Plumbing hardware: underfloor heating manifolds, hot-water fittings, valve components
• Electrical equipment in humid environments: outdoor junction boxes, controller housings, fastening components for marine applications
• Thin-wall molding: long narrow parts (guides, rails, mini-housings) — where high melt flow is critical
• Replacement of legacy PA 610-L: service and repair of equipment built to Soviet-era documentation, with a transition to modern quality control

Global equivalents: BASF Ultramid® Balance B40 LN (PA610, ~40 % bio-based), DSM EcoPaXX® Q150 (PA410, ~70 % bio-based — more heat-resistant), Arkema Rilsan® S B (PA1010), DuPont™ Zytel® RS LC1100 BK (PA610). Examid® PA610 H120M is the MW offering for injection moulding of series-production parts with critical moisture-resistance requirements.

The stated values are measured by in-house methods close to the corresponding ISO and GOST standards. This information is provided for reference only and is not an official batch data sheet. Before industrial use, please request the TDS and MSDS for the specific batch.