Materials / Compare
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Plastic Nylon
Compare DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium 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 | 1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400) | 63.1MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400) | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 82.9MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400) | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical | 2.33GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400 | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 250kN·m/kg4.52x higher | 55.4kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25MN·m/kg12.2x higher | 2.04MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 41GPa49.2x stiffer in shear | 0.833GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 116GPa | 3.89GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,000m/s | 1,430m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) |
| Thermal expansion | 9µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228; EOS Ti64 Grade 23 (=ELI) on EOS M 290 40 µm; condition not stated (sheet's mechanical data are heat treated) | 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 | 45µm growth11.1x less | 500µm growth |
| Specific heat | 580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 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) | 2.59mm²/s15.2x faster | 0.17mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 4,825W/m90x more resistant | 53.6W/m |
| Melting point | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level) | 188°Csourcetypical |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 55.1°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | EOS Titanium Ti64ELI (powder 9011-0040; ASTM F136/F3001, i.e. Grade 23) on EOS M400 SF, parameter set Ti64ELI_030_FlexM400_100, 30 µm, as built; ISO 6892-1 A14 | 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.
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium and Plastic Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium stronger than Plastic Nylon?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (17.4x).
Which is lighter, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Plastic Nylon?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 4,400 kg/m³ for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium.
Which is stiffer, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Plastic Nylon?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Plastic Nylon?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Plastic Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate.
| Part that must be | DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium | Plastic Nylon |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 12.2x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.78x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | 7% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 4.52x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.74x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 8% 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, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Plastic Nylon?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
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