PA 46

PA 46 (polyamide 46) is a high-performance engineering plastic that excels in high-temperature applications and offers excellent wear resistance and mechanical stability under heavy loads.

PA 46

PA46 is a high-quality engineering plastic specially developed for applications where standard plastics fall short. This material distinguishes itself through its excellent performance at higher temperatures, combined with high mechanical strength and wear resistance.

What makes PA46 special is its ability to retain its stiffness and strength under heavy loads and at elevated temperatures — where other polyamides such as PA6 deform or wear more quickly, PA46 remains stable and functional.

In addition, PA46 has excellent sliding and wear properties. In applications where friction plays a major role, this results in a longer service life and less maintenance. The material also offers good chemical resistance to oils, greases, and various industrial media, making it widely applicable.

As with many polyamides, it is important to take moisture absorption into account, as this can affect dimensional stability under certain conditions. By taking this into consideration during design and application, PA46 can perform optimally as a reliable choice for demanding applications.

Properties and specifications:

Excellent heat resistance and performance at elevated temperatures
High mechanical strength and stiffness
Very good wear and friction properties
Good creep resistance under long-term load
Good chemical resistance to oils and greases
Suitable for dynamically loaded applications
Good dimensional stability when used correctly

Applications of PA46

PA46 stands out when standard polyamides such as PA6 fall short due to high temperatures or heavy, prolonged loads. The material is particularly suitable for dynamically loaded components that remain under pressure for extended periods, thanks to the combination of retained stiffness, strength, and creep resistance at elevated temperatures. In situations where friction and wear play a major role, PA46 contributes to a longer service life and less maintenance.

In applications where metal is replaced to reduce weight or noise, PA46 also often offers an efficient and durable solution, provided that moisture absorption is taken into account during design. Thanks to the combination of mechanical strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance, PA46 contributes to longer service intervals and lower maintenance costs.

Typical applications include:

Gears
Bearings and bearing bushings
Chain guides
Rollers
Machine components replacing metal under high thermal or mechanical loads

Our possibilities

Food grade certified plastics
Components in the food industry are exposed to cleaning agents and temperature fluctuations on a daily basis. Lakwijk selects materials that can withstand this, ranging from standard POM to high-performance PEEK for the most demanding conditions. This helps prevent deformation, wear, and unnecessary downtime.
Custom material advice
Not every plastic behaves the same way under load, moisture, or heat. Lakwijk knows the properties of commonly used materials such as POM, PA, and HMPE, as well as high-performance plastics like PEEK, PAI, and PTFE. By combining this knowledge with your specific application, we advise a material that isn't just suitable on paper, but also performs well in practice.
All processing techniques in-house
Plastic starts out as sheet or rod material and is processed step by step at Lakwijk into a precise end product. Our operators saw, mill, turn, bend, weld, and glue, depending on what the component requires.