Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg27% higher | 79.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg8.71x higher | 3.1MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000) | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa21.7x stiffer in shear | 1.25GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth5.1x less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s249x faster | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m277x more resistant | 49.9W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| Values for | EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10 | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (3x).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA6?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA6?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie; Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 8.71x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.92x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 16% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 27% heavier |
| Strong beam | 14% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 36% heavier | lighter |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA6?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.