Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. SLS PA12 Nylon
Compare FDM HIPS vs. SLS PA12 Nylon 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) | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 48MPasourcetypical2.61x stronger |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 18%sourcetypical12.9x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 1.65GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical | 930kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 51.6kN·m/kg2.87x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 1.77MN·m/kg14% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 1,332m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | not sourced |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | not sourced |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth | not sourced |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | not sourced |
| Melting point | not sourced | 176°Csourcetypical |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation |
| 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. | 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 HIPS and SLS PA12 Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM HIPS stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?
SLS PA12 Nylon is stronger: its tensile strength is 48 MPa against 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (2.61x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon?
SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,023 kg/m³ for FDM HIPS.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon?
SLS PA12 Nylon is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.65 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in SLS PA12 Nylon deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon?
For the same stiffness or strength: SLS PA12 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 HIPS | SLS PA12 Nylon |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 14% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 12% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 11% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.87x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.08x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.78x 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 is more ductile, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon?
SLS PA12 Nylon stretches further before it breaks: 18% elongation at break against 1.4% for FDM HIPS.