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Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic PLA

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

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Nickel Inconel 718Wrought
Plastic PLA3D printed (FDM)
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Mechanical
Yield strength1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset52.5MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar52.5MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strengthnot sourced96.8MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar7.8%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged3.25GPasourcetypical
Density8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged1,240kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight147kN·m/kg3.47x higher42.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight24.3MN·m/kg9.28x higher2.62MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + agednot sourced
Shear modulus77.3GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus162GPanot sourced
Speed of sound4,932m/s1,619m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)0.13W/m·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C
Thermal expansion13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + agednot sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing66µm growthnot sourced
Specific heat435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C1,200J/kg·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)3.19mm²/s36.5x faster0.0874mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance3,680W/mnot sourced
Melting point1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range152°Csourcetypical
Glass transitionnot sourced59.1°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer58.8°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
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 valuesUltimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated 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 PLA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Nickel Inconel 718 stronger than Plastic PLA?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (23x).

Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic PLA?

Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic PLA?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, 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 PLA?

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, strong beam; Plastic PLA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beNickel Inconel 718Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter9.28x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter18% heavier
Stiff panel or plate1.68x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter3.47x heavier
Strong beamlighter22% heavier
Strong panel or plate38% 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 PLA?

Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic 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 PA6Plastic 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 PLA
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic 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 PA6Plastic 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 PLA
Strength against density

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