Materials / Compare
Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic Nylon
Compare Aluminum ADC12 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 | 149MPasourceone test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 63.1MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 345MPasourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 82.9MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 2.3%sourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 79.8GPasourcestandard value (S.S.Aluminum) | 2.33GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,680kg/m³sourcemeasured (Daiki) | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 55.6kN·m/kg | 55.4kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 29.8MN·m/kg14.6x 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 | 5,457m/s | 1,430m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 125W/m·Ksourcemeasured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki) | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) |
| Thermal expansion | 21µm/m·Ksourcemeasured, temperature range not stated (Daiki) | 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 | 105µm growth4.76x less | 500µm growth |
| Specific heat | 911J/kg·Ksourcemeasured (Daiki) | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 51.2mm²/s301x faster | 0.17mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 53.6W/m |
| Melting point | 515–582°Csourcesolidus-liquidus (Daiki) | 188°Csourcetypical |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 55.1°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | JIS ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu, about A383 / EN AC-46100) high-pressure die-casting alloy, as cast; physical properties from Daiki Aluminium Industry (ADC12 ingot producer) measured values; modulus from S.S.Aluminum (ADC12 ingot producer) standard values. | 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 ADC12 stronger than Plastic Nylon?
Aluminum ADC12 is stronger: its yield strength is 149 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (2.36x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Nylon?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 2,680 kg/m³ for Aluminum ADC12.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Nylon?
Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Nylon?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum ADC12 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Plastic Nylon is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum ADC12 | Plastic Nylon |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 14.6x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.49x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 38% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | about equal | about equal |
| Strong beam | 33% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.53x 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 ADC12 or Plastic Nylon?
Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum ADC12 expands less: 21 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.