Plastic Nylon vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V

Compare Plastic Nylon vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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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	885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strength	63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)	940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed
Flexural strength	82.9MPasourcetypical	not sourced
Elongation at break	not sourced	16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.33GPasourcetypical	107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C
Density	1,140kg/m³sourcetypical	4,430kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight	55.4kN·m/kg	200kN·m/kg3.61x higher
Stiffness to weight	2.04MN·m/kg	25.8MN·m/kg12.6x higher
Poisson's ratio	0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)	0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements
Shear modulus	0.833GPa	42.7GPa51.2x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	3.89GPa	121GPa
Speed of sound	1,430m/s	5,084m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)	6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed
Thermal expansion	98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C	9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	500µm growth	45µm growth11.1x less
Specific heat	1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)	580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.17mm²/s	2.57mm²/s15.1x faster
Thermal shock resistance	53.6W/m	3,730W/m69.6x more resistant
Melting point	188°Csourcetypical	1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range
Glass transition	55.1°Csourcetypical	not sourced
Max service temperature	89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)	400°Csourceupper recommended use 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.	TIMETAL 6-4 (Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5) annealed plate typical (TIMET properties manual) + TIMET datasheet TMC-0150 physical properties

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 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (14x).

Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 4,430 kg/m³ for Titanium Ti-6Al-4V.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stiffer: Young's modulus 115 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Titanium Ti-6Al-4V deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must be	Plastic Nylon	Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	12.6x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	1.8x heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	6% heavier
Strong rod or tie	3.61x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	50% heavier	lighter
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 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Which expands less with temperature?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density