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DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium3D printed metal (DMLS)
SLS PA12 Nylon3D printed (SLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)48MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)18%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical1.65GPasourcetypical
Density4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400930kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight250kN·m/kg4.84x higher51.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25MN·m/kg14.1x higher1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measurednot sourced
Shear modulus41GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus116GPanot sourced
Speed of sound5,000m/s1,332m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °Cnot sourced
Thermal expansion9µm/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)not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing45µm growthnot sourced
Specific heat580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)2.59mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance4,825W/mnot sourced
Melting point1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)176°Csourcetypical
Max service temperaturenot sourced64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
Values forEOS 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 A14EOS PA 2200 (PA12) Material Data Sheet, process parameter 'Balance' at 120 µm layer thickness, X orientation, dry (conditioned values not given). Live MDS status 04.10.2026, last changed 10.09.2026; PDF via ?topdf=... link on the same page.

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 SLS PA12 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 SLS PA12 Nylon?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (22.9x).

Which is lighter, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 4,400 kg/m³ for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium.

Which is stiffer, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or SLS PA12 Nylon?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 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 SLS PA12 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; SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumSLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter14.1x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.73x heavier
Stiff panel or plate17% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter4.84x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.71x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter1% 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).

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000DMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumSLS PA12 Nylon
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ADMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumSLS PA12 Nylon
Strength against density

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