Nickel Inconel 718 vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare Nickel Inconel 718 vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Mechanical
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Yield strength	1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar	48MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar	18%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged	1.65GPasourcetypical
Density	8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged	930kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	147kN·m/kg2.84x higher	51.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	24.3MN·m/kg13.7x higher	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged	not sourced
Shear modulus	77.3GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	162GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	4,932m/s	1,332m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)	not sourced
Thermal expansion	13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	66µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	3.19mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	3,680W/m	not sourced
Melting point	1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range	176°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer	64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
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	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.

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

Questions

Is Nickel Inconel 718 stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (25.1x).

Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or SLS PA12 Nylon?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 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 SLS PA12 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; SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Nickel Inconel 718	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	13.7x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	25% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.79x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	2.84x heavier
Strong beam	3% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	1.76x 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).

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density