Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon vs. Plastic PMMA
Compare Plastic Nylon vs. Plastic PMMA strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 63.1MPasourcetypical | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical |
| Flexural strength | 82.9MPasourcetypical | 115MPasourcetypical39% stronger in bending |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 5.5%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.33GPasourcetypical | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term |
| Density | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 55.4kN·m/kg | 67.2kN·m/kg21% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.04MN·m/kg | 2.77MN·m/kg36% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | 0.37sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 0.833GPa | 1.2GPa45% stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 3.89GPa | 4.23GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,430m/s | 1,665m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 500µm growth | 350µm growth43% less |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.17mm²/s1.57x faster | 0.109mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 53.6W/m29% more resistant | 41.5W/m |
| Melting point | 188°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Glass transition | 55.1°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature |
| Values for | 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. | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) |
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.
Plastic Nylon is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic Nylon stronger than Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against yield strength 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (27%).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for Plastic PMMA.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.3 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Plastic PMMA deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or Plastic PMMA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PMMA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic Nylon | Plastic PMMA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 36% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 14% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 8% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 21% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 12% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 8% 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, Plastic Nylon or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic Nylon conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PMMA expands less: 70 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.