Aluminum 1100-O vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare Aluminum 1100-O vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Mechanical
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Yield strength	35MPasourcetypical, O, 0.0625 in specimen	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	90MPasourcetypical, O	48MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	35%sourcetypical, O, in 4D	18%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPasourcetypical41.8x stiffer	1.65GPasourcetypical
Density	2,710kg/m³sourcenominal, 20 °C	930kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	12.9kN·m/kg	51.6kN·m/kg4x higher
Stiffness to weight	25.5MN·m/kg14.4x higher	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	5,046m/s	1,332m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	222W/m·Ksourcetypical, O, 20 °C	not sourced
Thermal expansion	23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	118µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	901J/kg·Ksourcebase material: commercially pure aluminium EN AW-1050A (Hydro), 20 °C	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	90.9mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	640–655°Csourcemelting range	176°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
Values for	1100-O (annealed) commercially pure aluminium, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 1100 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from Hydro EN AW-1050A (99.5% Al) extruded-products datasheet (10/2018).	EOS 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.

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

Questions

Is Aluminum 1100-O stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is stronger: its tensile strength is 48 MPa against yield strength 35 MPa for Aluminum 1100-O (37%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 1100-O or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 2,710 kg/m³ for Aluminum 1100-O.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 1100-O or SLS PA12 Nylon?

Aluminum 1100-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in Aluminum 1100-O deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 1100-O or SLS PA12 Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 1100-O is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 1100-O	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	14.4x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2.22x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	19% heavier
Strong rod or tie	4x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	3.6x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	3.41x 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).

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density