Materials / Compare
Aluminum A380 vs. Plastic Nylon
Compare Aluminum A380 vs. Plastic Nylon 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 | 160MPasourcetypical, 25 °C | 63.1MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 320MPasourcetypical, 25 °C | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 82.9MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 3.5%sourcetypical | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 71GPasourcetypical, 25 °C | 2.33GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,713kg/m³sourcetypical at 68 °F | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 59kN·m/kg7% higher | 55.4kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.2MN·m/kg12.8x higher | 2.04MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 0.833GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 3.89GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,116m/s | 1,430m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 96.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 68 °F | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) |
| Thermal expansion | 21.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 68-572 °F (20-300 °C) | 98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 109µm growth4.59x less | 500µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 68 °F | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 36.8mm²/s216x faster | 0.17mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 53.6W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 188°Csourcetypical |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 55.1°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page. | Ultimaker Nylon, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat), conditioned >=24 h at room temperature; Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v2.00, April 20, 2022. |
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.
Plastic Nylon is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum A380 stronger than Plastic Nylon?
Aluminum A380 is stronger: its yield strength is 160 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (2.54x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or Plastic Nylon?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 2,713 kg/m³ for Aluminum A380.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or Plastic Nylon?
Aluminum A380 is stiffer: Young's modulus 71 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Aluminum A380 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or Plastic Nylon?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum A380 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie; Plastic Nylon is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum A380 | Plastic Nylon |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 12.8x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.32x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 31% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 7% heavier |
| Strong beam | 28% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 49% 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, Aluminum A380 or Plastic Nylon?
Aluminum A380 conducts heat better: 96.2 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum A380 expands less: 21.8 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.