Materials / Compare

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

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

Change either side
Plastic Nylon3D printed (FDM)
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium3D printed metal (DMLS)
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strength63.1MPasourcetypical1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Ultimate tensile strength63.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Flexural strength82.9MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.33GPasourcetypical110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical
Density1,140kg/m³sourcetypical4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400
Strength to weight55.4kN·m/kg250kN·m/kg4.52x higher
Stiffness to weight2.04MN·m/kg25MN·m/kg12.2x higher
Poisson's ratio0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured
Shear modulus0.833GPa41GPa49.2x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.89GPa116GPa
Speed of sound1,430m/s5,000m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.33W/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Thermal expansion98–102µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 C9µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228; EOS Ti64 Grade 23 (=ELI) on EOS M 290 40 µm; condition not stated (sheet's mechanical data are heat treated)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing500µm growth45µm growth11.1x less
Specific heat1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.17mm²/s2.59mm²/s15.2x faster
Thermal shock resistance53.6W/m4,825W/m90x more resistant
Melting point188°Csourcetypical1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)
Glass transition55.1°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Max service temperature89.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)not sourced
Values forUltimaker 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.EOS Titanium Ti64ELI (powder 9011-0040; ASTM F136/F3001, i.e. Grade 23) on EOS M400 SF, parameter set Ti64ELI_030_FlexM400_100, 30 µm, as built; ISO 6892-1 A14

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 and DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic Nylon stronger than DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (17.4x).

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

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 4,400 kg/m³ for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium.

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

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium deflects less under the same load.

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

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

Part that must bePlastic NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)12.2x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.78x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter7% heavier
Strong rod or tie4.52x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.74x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate8% heavierlighter

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 DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

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

Which expands less with temperature?

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

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPURubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Strength against density

Related comparisons