Materials / Compare

Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic Nylon PA6

Compare Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Nickel Inconel 718Wrought
Plastic Nylon PA6Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset90MPasourcetypical, dry
Ultimate tensile strength1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. barnot sourced
Elongation at break20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry
Young's modulus (stiffness)200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged3.5GPasourcetypical, dry
Density8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged1,130kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight147kN·m/kg1.84x higher79.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight24.3MN·m/kg7.85x higher3.1MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus77.3GPa61.8x stiffer in shear1.25GPa
Bulk modulus162GPa5.83GPa
Speed of sound4,932m/s1,760m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing66µm growth7.73x less510µm growth
Specific heat435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)3.19mm²/s18.6x faster0.172mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance3,680W/m73.7x more resistant49.9W/m
Melting point1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range220°CsourceDSC
Max service temperature704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
Values forINCONEL 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 valuesBASF 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.

Questions

Is Nickel Inconel 718 stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (13.4x).

Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, 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 PA6?

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 PA6 is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beNickel Inconel 718Plastic Nylon PA6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter7.85x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter4% heavier
Stiff panel or plate1.89x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter1.84x heavier
Strong beam29% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1.99x 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 conducts heat better, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Which expands less with temperature?

Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelNickel Inconel 718Plastic Nylon PA6
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickNickel Inconel 718Plastic Nylon PA6
Strength against density

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