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Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel

Compare Plastic Nylon PA6 vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic Nylon PA6Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength90MPasourcetypical, dry530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal
Young's modulus (stiffness)3.5GPasourcetypical, dry185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)
Density1,130kg/m³sourcetypical7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine
Strength to weight79.6kN·m/kg19% higher67.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight3.1MN·m/kg23.4MN·m/kg7.56x higher
Poisson's ratio0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value
Shear modulus1.25GPa71.2GPa56.9x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus5.83GPa154GPa
Speed of sound1,760m/s4,839m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C
Thermal expansion102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing510µm growth78.6µm growth6.49x less
Specific heat1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.172mm²/s4.1mm²/s23.9x faster
Thermal shock resistance49.9W/m2,067W/m41.4x more resistant
Melting point220°CsourceDSCnot sourced
Max service temperature87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 hnot sourced
Values forBASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods)EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1

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.

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic Nylon PA6 stronger than DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (5.89x).

Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA6 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA6 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in DMLS 316L Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon PA6 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).

Part that must bePlastic Nylon PA6DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)7.56x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)4% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter1.86x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter19% heavier
Strong beamlighter2.14x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.88x heavier

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, Plastic Nylon PA6 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 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 C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium 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 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic Nylon PA6DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
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 C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium 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 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic Nylon PA6DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Strength against density

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