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FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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FDM Polycarbonate3D printed (FDM)
SLS PA12 Nylon3D printed (SLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength53.3MPasourcetypicalnot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)48MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength89.4MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Elongation at break9.2%sourcetypical18%sourcetypical1.96x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.39GPasourcetypical45% stiffer1.65GPasourcetypical
Density1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange930kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight44.8kN·m/kg51.6kN·m/kg15% higher
Stiffness to weight2.01MN·m/kg13% higher1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)not sourced
Shear modulus0.867GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus3.33GPanot sourced
Speed of sound1,418m/s1,332m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °Cnot sourced
Thermal expansion65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallelnot sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing325µm growthnot sourced
Specific heatnot sourcednot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourcednot sourced
Thermal shock resistance42.5W/mnot sourced
Melting pointnot sourced176°Csourcetypical
Glass transition108°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Max service temperature105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
Values forUltimaker 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.EOS 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.

FDM Polycarbonate and SLS PA12 Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (11%).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); SLS PA12 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 beFDM PolycarbonateSLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter13% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)6% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate13% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie15% heavierlighter
Strong beam19% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate21% heavierlighter

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 is more ductile, FDM Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon stretches further before it breaks: 18% elongation at break against 9.2% for FDM Polycarbonate.

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 PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000DMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelFDM PolycarbonateSLS 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 PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ADMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickFDM PolycarbonateSLS PA12 Nylon
Strength against density

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