Materials / Compare

Brass C260 vs. Plastic Nylon

Compare Brass C260 vs. Plastic Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side
Brass C260Wrought
Plastic Nylon3D printed (FDM)
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strength345MPasourcenominal, strip/flat, 0.5% extension (not 0.2% offset)63.1MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength427MPasourcenominal, strip/flat63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strengthnot sourced82.9MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break23%sourcenominal, in 2.0 in., strip/flatnot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)110GPasourcetypical, temper-independent2.33GPasourcetypical
Density8,525kg/m³sourcenominal1,140kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight40.5kN·m/kg55.4kN·m/kg37% higher
Stiffness to weight12.9MN·m/kg6.33x higher2.04MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.34sourcereference value at room temperature (Wieland-M30 = CuZn30 = C26000, rolled products)0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus41.2GPa49.4x stiffer in shear0.833GPa
Bulk modulus115GPa3.89GPa
Speed of sound3,597m/s1,430m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity121W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Thermal expansion20µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing100µm growth5x less500µm growth
Specific heat377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)37.7mm²/s222x faster0.17mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance12,510W/m233x more resistant53.6W/m
Melting point916–954°Csourcesolidus-liquidus188°Csourcetypical
Glass transitionnot sourced55.1°Csourcetypical
Max service temperaturenot sourced89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values forC26000 cartridge brass, H02 half hard flat/strip: CDA Electronic Connector Design Guide (mechanical) + CDA alloy page (physical)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 Brass C260 stronger than Plastic Nylon?

Brass C260 is stronger: its yield strength is 345 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (5.47x).

Which is lighter, Brass C260 or Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 8,525 kg/m³ for Brass C260.

Which is stiffer, Brass C260 or Plastic Nylon?

Brass C260 is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Brass C260 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C260 or Plastic Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C260 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic Nylon is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beBrass C260Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter6.33x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)9% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2.07x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie37% heavierlighter
Strong beam2.41x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate3.2x 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, Brass C260 or Plastic Nylon?

Brass C260 conducts heat better: 121 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Which expands less with temperature?

Brass C260 expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel 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-4VNickel 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 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrass C260Plastic Nylon
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPURubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel 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-4VNickel 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 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickBrass C260Plastic Nylon
Strength against density

Related comparisons