DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Plastic Nylon PA6

Compare DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium3D printed metal (DMLS)

Plastic Nylon PA6Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)	90MPasourcetypical, dry
Ultimate tensile strength	1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)	not sourced
Elongation at break	8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)	10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry
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	3.5GPasourcetypical, dry
Density	4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400	1,130kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	250kN·m/kg3.14x higher	79.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25MN·m/kg8.07x higher	3.1MN·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	41GPa32.8x stiffer in shear	1.25GPa
Bulk modulus	116GPa	5.83GPa
Speed of sound	5,000m/s	1,760m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C	0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical
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)	102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	45µm growth11.3x less	510µm growth
Specific heat	580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C	1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	2.59mm²/s15.1x faster	0.172mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	4,825W/m96.7x more resistant	49.9W/m
Melting point	1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)	220°CsourceDSC
Max service temperature	not sourced	87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
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	BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods)

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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (12.2x).

Which is lighter, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 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 PA6?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, 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 PA6?

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; Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium	Plastic Nylon PA6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	8.07x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	44% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	23% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	3.14x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	36% heavier
Strong panel or plate	11% 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, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Plastic Nylon PA6?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density