Copper C12200 vs. Plastic Nylon

Compare Copper C12200 vs. Plastic Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Copper C12200	Plastic Nylon
Yield strength	69MPa1	63.1MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	221MPa13.5x stronger	63.1MPa2
Flexural strength	not sourced	82.9MPa2
Elongation at break	45%1	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	117GPa150.3x stiffer	2.33GPa2
Density	8,941kg/m³1	1,140kg/m³27.84x lighter
Strength to weight	7.72kN·m/kg	55.4kN·m/kg7.17x higher
Stiffness to weight	13.1MN·m/kg6.41x higher	2.04MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.343	base material0.44
Shear modulus	43.7GPa52.5x stiffer in shear	0.833GPa
Bulk modulus	122GPa31.4x higher	3.89GPa
Speed of sound	3,621m/s2.53x faster	1,430m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Copper C12200	Plastic Nylon
Thermal conductivity	339W/m·K11,028x more heat through a fin	base material0.33W/m·K5
Thermal expansion	16.9µm/m·K1	base material98–102µm/m·K5
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	84.5µm growth5.92x less	500µm growth
Specific heat	385J/kg·K1	base material1,700J/kg·K54.41x higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	98.5mm²/s578x faster	0.17mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	7,799W/m146x more resistant	53.6W/m
Melting point	liquidus1,083°C1894 °C higher	188°C2
Glass transition	not sourced	55.1°C2
Max service temperature	not sourced	HDT 0.455 MPa89.2°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources5 documents: Copper Development Association, UltiMaker, Wieland, Covestro, BASF

Copper C12200: C12200 phosphorus-deoxidized copper (DHP, the air-conditioning and refrigeration tube copper), tube annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.065 in. wall, copper.org typical values
Plastic Nylon: 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.

1
C12200 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C12200 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C12200 · Density: nominalCopper C12200 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C12200 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Melting point: liquidus
2
Ultimaker Nylon Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic Nylon · Yield strength: typicalPlastic Nylon · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic Nylon · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic Nylon · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Nylon · Density: typicalPlastic Nylon · Melting point: typicalPlastic Nylon · Glass transition: typicalPlastic Nylon · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
3
Wieland-K19 (Cu-DHP, C12200) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C12200 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K19 = Cu-DHP = C12200, rolled products)
4
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroPlastic Nylon · Poisson's ratio: base material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
5
Ultramid (PA) Product RangeBASFPlastic Nylon · Thermal conductivity: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)Plastic Nylon · Thermal expansion: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 CPlastic Nylon · Specific heat: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "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

Mechanical

Is Copper C12200 stronger than Plastic Nylon?

Copper C12200 is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (9%).

Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.

Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Plastic Nylon?

Copper C12200 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Copper C12200 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Plastic Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C12200 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	Copper C12200	Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	6.41x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	11% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.12x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	7.17x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	7.39x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	7.5x 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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Plastic Nylon?

Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Which expands less with temperature?

Copper C12200 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.