Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic Nylon

Compare Nickel Inconel 718 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	1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset	63.1MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar	63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength	not sourced	82.9MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged	2.33GPasourcetypical
Density	8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged	1,140kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	147kN·m/kg2.65x higher	55.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	24.3MN·m/kg11.9x higher	2.04MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged	0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	77.3GPa92.8x stiffer in shear	0.833GPa
Bulk modulus	162GPa	3.89GPa
Speed of sound	4,932m/s	1,430m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)	0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Thermal expansion	13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged	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	66µm growth7.58x less	500µm growth
Specific heat	435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C	1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	3.19mm²/s18.7x faster	0.17mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	3,680W/m68.7x more resistant	53.6W/m
Melting point	1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range	188°Csourcetypical
Glass transition	not sourced	55.1°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer	89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values for	INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values	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.

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

Questions

Is Nickel Inconel 718 stronger than Plastic Nylon?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (19.1x).

Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Nylon?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie; Plastic Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Nickel Inconel 718	Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	11.9x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	28% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.64x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	2.65x heavier
Strong beam	about equal	about equal
Strong panel or plate	1.65x 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, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Nylon?

Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Which expands less with temperature?

Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density