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SLS PA12 Nylon vs. FDM Polycarbonate

Compare SLS PA12 Nylon vs. FDM Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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SLS PA12 Nylon3D printed (SLS)
FDM Polycarbonate3D printed (FDM)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)53.3MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength48MPasourcetypical53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strengthnot sourced89.4MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break18%sourcetypical1.96x more ductile9.2%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)1.65GPasourcetypical2.39GPasourcetypical45% stiffer
Density930kg/m³sourcetypical1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange
Strength to weight51.6kN·m/kg15% higher44.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight1.77MN·m/kg2.01MN·m/kg13% higher
Poisson's rationot sourced0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulusnot sourced0.867GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced3.33GPa
Speed of sound1,332m/s1,418m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivitynot sourced0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C
Thermal expansionnot sourced65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
100 mm part over a 50 °C swingnot sourced325µm growth
Specific heatnot sourcednot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourcednot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced42.5W/m
Melting point176°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced108°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values forEOS PA 2200 (PA12) Material Data Sheet, process parameter 'Balance' at 120 µm layer thickness, X orientation, dry (conditioned values not given). Live MDS status 04.10.2026, last changed 10.09.2026; PDF via ?topdf=... link on the same page.Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); 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 (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.

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.

SLS PA12 Nylon and FDM Polycarbonate are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is SLS PA12 Nylon stronger than FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (11%).

Which is lighter, SLS PA12 Nylon or FDM Polycarbonate?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, SLS PA12 Nylon or FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, SLS PA12 Nylon or FDM Polycarbonate?

For the same stiffness or strength: SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension).

Part that must beSLS PA12 NylonFDM Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)13% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)lighter6% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter13% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter15% heavier
Strong beamlighter19% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter21% 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 is more ductile, SLS PA12 Nylon or FDM Polycarbonate?

SLS PA12 Nylon stretches further before it breaks: 18% elongation at break against 9.2% for FDM Polycarbonate.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel 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 PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000DMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelSLS PA12 NylonFDM Polycarbonate
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel 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 PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ADMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickSLS PA12 NylonFDM Polycarbonate
Strength against density

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