Materials / Compare

SLS PA12 Nylon vs. SLA Resin Tough 2000

Compare SLS PA12 Nylon vs. SLA Resin Tough 2000 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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SLS PA12 Nylon3D printed (SLS)
SLA Resin Tough 20003D printed (SLA resin)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)40.4MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength48MPasourcetypical19% stronger40.4MPasourcetypical
Flexural strengthnot sourced67MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break18%sourcetypical79%sourcetypical4.39x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)1.65GPasourcetypical1.8GPasourcetypical
Density930kg/m³sourcetypical17% lighter1,090kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight51.6kN·m/kg39% higher37.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight1.77MN·m/kg7% higher1.65MN·m/kg
Poisson's rationot sourcednot sourced
Shear modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Bulk modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Speed of sound1,332m/s1,285m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivitynot sourcednot sourced
Thermal expansionnot sourced134µm/m·Ksourcemean 0-150 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swingnot sourced671µm growth
Specific heatnot sourcednot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourcednot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Melting point176°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced112°CsourceDMA
Max service temperature64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation57°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
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.Formlabs Tough 2000 Resin V2 (FLTO2002), TDS Rev. 01 10/06/2025; printed on Form 4 at 100 µm, washed in Form Wash V2 10+5 min in >=99% IPA, post-cured 70 °C for 12 min in Form Cure V2. Orientation not stated.

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 SLA Resin Tough 2000 are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is SLS PA12 Nylon stronger than SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLS PA12 Nylon is stronger: its tensile strength is 48 MPa against yield strength 40.4 MPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000 (19%).

Which is lighter, SLS PA12 Nylon or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,090 kg/m³ for SLA Resin Tough 2000.

Which is stiffer, SLS PA12 Nylon or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLA Resin Tough 2000 is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.8 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in SLA Resin Tough 2000 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, SLS PA12 Nylon or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

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

Part that must beSLS PA12 NylonSLA Resin Tough 2000
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter7% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter12% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter14% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter39% heavier
Strong beamlighter31% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter28% 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 SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLA Resin Tough 2000 stretches further before it breaks: 79% 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 POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelSLS PA12 NylonSLA Resin Tough 2000
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 PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Elastic 50ADMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickSLS PA12 NylonSLA Resin Tough 2000
Strength against density

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