Materials / Compare
Plastic Nylon vs. Steel AISI 4340
Compare Plastic Nylon vs. Steel AISI 4340 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 | 1,035MPasourcetypical, transverse |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 1,140MPasourcetypical, transverse |
| Flexural strength | 82.9MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 18%sourcetypical, transverse |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.33GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered) |
| Density | 1,140kg/m³sourcetypical6.88x lighter | 7,840kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 55.4kN·m/kg | 132kN·m/kg2.39x higher |
| 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) | 0.32sourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered) |
| Shear modulus | 0.833GPa | 75.7GPa91x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 3.89GPa | 185GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,430m/s | 5,049m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 37.5W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C | 11.3µm/m·Ksourcemean, -18 to 93 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 500µm growth | 56.5µm growth8.85x less |
| Specific heat | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both) | 448J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.17mm²/s | 10.7mm²/s62.7x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 53.6W/m | 11,678W/m218x 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. | Carpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level |
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 AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,035 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (16.4x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Steel AISI 4340?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 7,840 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 4340.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Steel AISI 4340 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or Steel AISI 4340?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel AISI 4340 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | Plastic Nylon | Steel AISI 4340 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2.39x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 7% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.7x 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 AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 conducts heat better: 37.5 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 4340 expands less: 11.3 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
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