SLS PA12 Nylon vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel

Compare SLS PA12 Nylon vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Ultimate tensile strength	48MPasourcetypical	640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Elongation at break	18%sourcetypical	40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal
Young's modulus (stiffness)	1.65GPasourcetypical	185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)
Density	930kg/m³sourcetypical	7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine
Strength to weight	51.6kN·m/kg	67.1kN·m/kg30% higher
Stiffness to weight	1.77MN·m/kg	23.4MN·m/kg13.2x higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value
Shear modulus	not sourced	71.2GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	154GPa
Speed of sound	1,332m/s	4,839m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	not sourced	16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C
Thermal expansion	not sourced	15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	not sourced	78.6µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	4.1mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	2,067W/m
Melting point	176°Csourcetypical	not sourced
Max service temperature	64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation	not sourced
Values for	EOS 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.	EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1

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 DMLS 316L Stainless Steel are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is SLS PA12 Nylon stronger than DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (11x).

Which is lighter, SLS PA12 Nylon or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, SLS PA12 Nylon or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in DMLS 316L Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, SLS PA12 Nylon or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

For the same stiffness or strength: SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.

Part that must be	SLS PA12 Nylon	DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	13.2x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	25% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	1.76x heavier
Strong rod or tie	30% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	lighter	1.71x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	2.56x 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

Stiffness against density

Strength against density