Materials / Compare
Brass C360 vs. Plastic Nylon
Compare Brass C360 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 | 310MPasourcetypical, 0.5% extension under load | 63.1MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 400MPasourcetypical | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 82.9MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 25%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 96.5GPasourcetypical, temper-independent | 2.33GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 8,498kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 36.5kN·m/kg | 55.4kN·m/kg1.52x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 11.4MN·m/kg5.55x higher | 2.04MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.34sourcebase material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 36GPa43.3x stiffer in shear | 0.833GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 101GPa | 3.89GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,370m/s | 1,430m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 116W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) |
| Thermal expansion | 20.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 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 | 103µm growth4.88x less | 500µm growth |
| Specific heat | 377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 36.2mm²/s213x faster | 0.17mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 11,997W/m224x more resistant | 53.6W/m |
| Melting point | 888–899°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | 188°Csourcetypical |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 55.1°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical 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 Brass C360 stronger than Plastic Nylon?
Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (4.91x).
Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Plastic Nylon?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.
Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Plastic Nylon?
Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Plastic Nylon?
For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C360 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 be | Brass C360 | Plastic Nylon |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 5.55x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 16% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 2.15x heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 1.52x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.58x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 3.36x 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, Brass C360 or Plastic Nylon?
Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
Which expands less with temperature?
Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.