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SLS PA12 Nylon vs. Plastic PTFE

Compare SLS PA12 Nylon vs. Plastic PTFE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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SLS PA12 Nylon3D printed (SLS)
Plastic PTFEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)9MPasourcetypical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8)
Ultimate tensile strength48MPasourcetypical39.3MPasourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm
Elongation at break18%sourcetypical350%sourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm
Young's modulus (stiffness)1.65GPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Density930kg/m³sourcetypical2,160kg/m³sourcetypical (standard specific gravity, ASTM D4894)
Strength to weight51.6kN·m/kg12.4x higher4.17kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight1.77MN·m/kgnot sourced
Poisson's rationot sourced0.46sourcetypical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook)
Shear modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Bulk modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Speed of sound1,332m/snot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivitynot sourced0.25W/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimen
Thermal expansionnot sourced100µm/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swingnot sourced500µm growth
Specific heatnot sourced1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.0827mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Melting point176°Csourcetypical327°Csourcesecond melting peak (sintered polymer), +/-10
Max service temperature64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation260°Csourceservice temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement)
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.Chemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape)

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 PTFE?

SLS PA12 Nylon is stronger: its tensile strength is 48 MPa against yield strength 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (5.33x).

Which is lighter, SLS PA12 Nylon or Plastic PTFE?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 2,160 kg/m³ for Plastic PTFE.

Which is lighter for the same job, SLS PA12 Nylon or Plastic PTFE?

For the same stiffness or strength: SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beSLS PA12 NylonPlastic PTFE
Strong rod or tielighter12.4x heavier
Strong beamlighter7.09x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter5.36x 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).

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 PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000DMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelSLS PA12 Nylon
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 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 PTFE
Strength against density

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