FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic Nylon

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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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	53.3MPasourcetypical	63.1MPasourcetypical18% stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)	63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)18% stronger
Flexural strength	89.4MPasourcetypical	82.9MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	9.2%sourcetypical	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.39GPasourcetypical	2.33GPasourcetypical
Density	1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange	1,140kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	44.8kN·m/kg	55.4kN·m/kg24% higher
Stiffness to weight	2.01MN·m/kg	2.04MN·m/kg2% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)	0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	0.867GPa4% stiffer in shear	0.833GPa
Bulk modulus	3.33GPa	3.89GPa
Speed of sound	1,418m/s	1,430m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C	0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Thermal expansion	65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel	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	325µm growth1.54x less	500µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.17mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	42.5W/m	53.6W/m26% more resistant
Melting point	not sourced	188°Csourcetypical
Glass transition	108°Csourcetypical	55.1°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)17% hotter	89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values for	Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); 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 (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.	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.

FDM Polycarbonate and Plastic Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is stronger: its yield strength is 63.1 MPa against 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (18%).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	FDM Polycarbonate	Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	2% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	3% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	3% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	24% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	17% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	14% 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 handles higher temperatures, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

FDM Polycarbonate does: 105 °C against 89.2 °C for Plastic Nylon, both HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens).

Which conducts heat better, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density