Plastic Nylon vs. Plastic Polycarbonate

Compare Plastic Nylon vs. Plastic Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	63.1MPasourcetypical	65MPasourcetypical, tensile yield
Ultimate tensile strength	63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)	65MPasourcetypical, stress at break
Flexural strength	82.9MPasourcetypical	97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength
Elongation at break	not sourced	125%sourcetypical, strain at break
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.33GPasourcetypical	2.4GPasourcetypical
Density	1,140kg/m³sourcetypical	1,200kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	55.4kN·m/kg2% higher	54.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	2.04MN·m/kg2% higher	2MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)	0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	0.833GPa	0.87GPa4% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	3.89GPa	3.33GPa
Speed of sound	1,430m/s	1,414m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)	0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C
Thermal expansion	98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C	65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	500µm growth	325µm growth1.54x less
Specific heat	1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)	1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.17mm²/s20% faster	0.142mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	53.6W/m4% more resistant	51.7W/m
Melting point	188°Csourcetypical	not sourced
Glass transition	55.1°Csourcetypical	144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min
Max service temperature	89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)	125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
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.	Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values

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 Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (3%).

Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.4 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Plastic Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or Plastic Polycarbonate?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon 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 Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	2% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	4% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	4% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	2% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	3% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	4% 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 or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Nylon conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density