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SLS PA12 Nylon vs. DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium

Compare SLS PA12 Nylon vs. DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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SLS PA12 Nylon3D printed (SLS)
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium3D printed metal (DMLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Ultimate tensile strength48MPasourcetypical1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Elongation at break18%sourcetypical8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)
Young's modulus (stiffness)1.65GPasourcetypical110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical
Density930kg/m³sourcetypical4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400
Strength to weight51.6kN·m/kg250kN·m/kg4.84x higher
Stiffness to weight1.77MN·m/kg25MN·m/kg14.1x higher
Poisson's rationot sourced0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured
Shear modulusnot sourced41GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced116GPa
Speed of sound1,332m/s5,000m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivitynot sourced6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Thermal expansionnot sourced9µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228; EOS Ti64 Grade 23 (=ELI) on EOS M 290 40 µm; condition not stated (sheet's mechanical data are heat treated)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swingnot sourced45µm growth
Specific heatnot sourced580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced2.59mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced4,825W/m
Melting point176°Csourcetypical1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)
Max service temperature64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientationnot sourced
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.EOS Titanium Ti64ELI (powder 9011-0040; ASTM F136/F3001, i.e. Grade 23) on EOS M400 SF, parameter set Ti64ELI_030_FlexM400_100, 30 µm, as built; ISO 6892-1 A14

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 Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is SLS PA12 Nylon stronger than DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (22.9x).

Which is lighter, SLS PA12 Nylon or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 4,400 kg/m³ for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium.

Which is stiffer, SLS PA12 Nylon or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, SLS PA12 Nylon or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

For the same stiffness or strength: SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beSLS PA12 NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)14.1x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.73x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter17% heavier
Strong rod or tie4.84x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.71x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1% heavierlighter

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 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelSLS PA12 NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
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 Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ADMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickSLS PA12 NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Strength against density

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