Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 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 | not given (tensile used) | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 79.6kN·m/kg4.43x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 3.1MN·m/kg2x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 1.25GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth28% less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 49.9W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| Values for | BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM. | 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.
FDM HIPS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM HIPS stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (4.89x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,130 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 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 HIPS | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 34% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 18% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 4.43x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.61x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 2x 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, FDM HIPS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.