Materials / Compare

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic Nylon PA66

Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic Nylon PA66 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)
Plastic Nylon PA66Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal85MPasourcetypical, dry
Ultimate tensile strength450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontalnot sourced
Elongation at break10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal30%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)3GPasourcetypical, dry
Density2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm)1,130kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight101kN·m/kg34% higher75.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight27MN·m/kg10.2x higher2.65MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcebase 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 modulus27.1GPa25.3x stiffer in shear1.07GPa
Bulk modulus70.6GPa5GPa
Speed of sound5,193m/s1,629m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2)0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22898µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing100µm growth4.9x less490µm growth
Specific heat963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)42.8mm²/s249x faster0.172mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance13,819W/m241x more resistant57.2W/m
Melting pointnot sourced260°CsourceDSC
Max service temperaturenot sourced101°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
Values forEOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10BASF Ultramid A3K (PA66, 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 PA66?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 85 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA66 (3.18x).

Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA66?

Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic Nylon PA66?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 3 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA66, 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 PA66?

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 PA66 is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumPlastic Nylon PA66
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter10.2x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.07x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter22% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter34% heavier
Strong beam9% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate33% heavierlighter

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 PA66?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 98 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumPlastic Nylon PA66
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumPlastic Nylon PA66
Strength against density

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