Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon vs. Stainless 17-4PH
Compare Plastic Nylon vs. Stainless 17-4PH 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 | 1,275MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 1,379MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip |
| Flexural strength | 82.9MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 9%sourcetypical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.33GPasourcetypical | 197GPasourceH 900 |
| Density | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,800kg/m³sourceH 900 |
| Strength to weight | 55.4kN·m/kg | 163kN·m/kg2.95x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.04MN·m/kg | 25.3MN·m/kg12.4x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | 0.272sourceH 900 (column) |
| Shear modulus | 0.833GPa | 77.4GPa93x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 3.89GPa | 144GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,430m/s | 5,026m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 17.9W/m·Ksourceat 149 °C (300 °F), H 900 |
| Thermal expansion | 98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C | 10.8µm/m·Ksourcemean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900 |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 500µm growth | 54µm growth9.26x less |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 460J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C, H 900 |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.17mm²/s | 4.99mm²/s29.3x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 53.6W/m | 7,809W/m146x more resistant |
| Melting point | 188°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Glass transition | 55.1°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 316°Csourcestrength-retention limit (not oxidation) |
| 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. | Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021) |
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 Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (20.2x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Stainless 17-4PH?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Stainless 17-4PH.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Stainless 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or Stainless 17-4PH?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Stainless 17-4PH is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | Plastic Nylon | Stainless 17-4PH |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 12.4x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 34% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.56x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.95x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 8% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.52x 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 Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
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