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DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)
SLS PA12 Nylon3D printed (SLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontalnot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal48MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal18%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY)1.65GPasourcetypical
Density2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm)930kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight101kN·m/kg1.96x higher51.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight27MN·m/kg15.2x higher1.77MN·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)not sourced
Shear modulus27.1GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus70.6GPanot sourced
Speed of sound5,193m/s1,332m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2)not sourced
Thermal expansion20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing100µm growthnot sourced
Specific heat963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)42.8mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance13,819W/mnot sourced
Melting pointnot sourced176°Csourcetypical
Max service temperaturenot sourced64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
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 B10EOS PA 2200 (PA12) Material Data Sheet, process parameter 'Balance' at 120 µm layer thickness, X orientation, dry (conditioned values not given). Live MDS status 04.10.2026, last changed 10.09.2026; PDF via ?topdf=... link on the same page.

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 and SLS PA12 Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (5.63x).

Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or SLS PA12 Nylon?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, 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 SLS PA12 Nylon?

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, strong beam; SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumSLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter15.2x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.3x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter23% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.96x heavier
Strong beamlighter10% heavier
Strong panel or plate21% 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).

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 Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumSLS PA12 Nylon
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 Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ADMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumSLS PA12 Nylon
Strength against density

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