Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Plastic Nylon

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Plastic Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)

Mechanical
Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	not sourced	63.1MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	not sourced	63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength	310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)	82.9MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	not sourced	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)	2.33GPasourcetypical
Density	3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)	1,140kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	not sourced	55.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	94.1MN·m/kg46x higher	2.04MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)	0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	129GPa155x stiffer in shear	0.833GPa
Bulk modulus	205GPa	3.89GPa
Speed of sound	9,701m/s	1,430m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)	0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Thermal expansion	4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)	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	23µm growth21.7x less	500µm growth
Specific heat	710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)	1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	62.1mm²/s365x 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	KYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03	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

Which is lighter, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 3,400 kg/m³ for Ceramic Aluminum Nitride.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic Nylon?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Ceramic Aluminum Nitride deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	Ceramic Aluminum Nitride	Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	46x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	3.93x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	1.73x heavier

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, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic Nylon?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density