Materials / Compare

SLS PA12 Nylon vs. Plastic POM/Acetal

Compare SLS PA12 Nylon vs. Plastic POM/Acetal strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side
SLS PA12 Nylon3D printed (SLS)
Plastic POM/AcetalBulk polymer (molded or machined)
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength)
Ultimate tensile strength48MPasourcetypical69MPasourcetypical44% stronger
Compressive strengthnot sourced124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation
Flexural strengthnot sourced99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical
Elongation at break18%sourcetypical75%sourcetypical4.17x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)1.65GPasourcetypical2.8GPasourcetypical1.7x stiffer
Density930kg/m³sourcetypical1,420kg/m³sourcetypical (DuPont product information for Delrin 100 NC010; 'The data listed here fall within the normal range of product properties')
Strength to weight51.6kN·m/kg6% higher48.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight1.77MN·m/kg1.97MN·m/kg11% higher
Poisson's rationot sourced0.35sourcetypical
Shear modulusnot sourced1.04GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced3.11GPa
Speed of sound1,332m/s1,404m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivitynot sourced0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansionnot sourced122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swingnot sourced610µm growth
Specific heatnot sourced1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.192mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced52.5W/m
Melting point176°Csourcetypical175°Csourcecrystalline melting point
Max service temperature64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed)
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.DuPont Delrin 100 acetal homopolymer, Table 2 'Typical Properties of Delrin Acetal Resins' (ASTM methods), Delrin Design Guide Module III hosted on delrin.com

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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is SLS PA12 Nylon stronger than Plastic POM/Acetal?

Plastic POM/Acetal is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (44%).

Which is lighter, SLS PA12 Nylon or Plastic POM/Acetal?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,420 kg/m³ for Plastic POM/Acetal.

Which is stiffer, SLS PA12 Nylon or Plastic POM/Acetal?

Plastic POM/Acetal is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.8 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in Plastic POM/Acetal deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, SLS PA12 Nylon or Plastic POM/Acetal?

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; Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension).

Part that must beSLS PA12 NylonPlastic POM/Acetal
Stiff rod or tie (tension)11% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)lighter17% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter28% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter6% heavier
Strong beamlighter20% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter27% 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 Plastic POM/Acetal?

Plastic POM/Acetal stretches further before it breaks: 75% elongation at break against 18% for SLS PA12 Nylon.

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 Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000DMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelSLS PA12 NylonPlastic POM/Acetal
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 Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ADMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickSLS PA12 NylonPlastic POM/Acetal
Strength against density

Related comparisons