Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon vs. Steel
Compare Plastic Nylon vs. Steel 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 | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Flexural strength | 82.9MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.33GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 55.4kN·m/kg13% higher | 49kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.04MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg12.5x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | 0.833GPa | 76.9GPa92.4x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 3.89GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,430m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 500µm growth | 60µm growth8.33x less |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.17mm²/s | 13mm²/s76.4x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 53.6W/m | 5,390W/m101x 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) | not sourced |
| 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. | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
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 Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (6.1x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Steel?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).
| Part that must be | Plastic Nylon | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 12.5x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 35% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.56x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 13% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.06x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.79x 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 Steel?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.