Plastic LCP GF30 vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare Plastic LCP GF30 vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic LCP GF30Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	115MPasourcetensile strength (ISO 527)	48MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength	184MPasourcetypical (ISO 178)	not sourced
Elongation at break	1.5%sourcetensile elongation (ISO 527)	18%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	11.5GPasourcetensile modulus (ISO 527)	1.65GPasourcetypical
Density	1,610kg/m³sourcetypical	930kg/m³sourcetypical1.73x lighter
Strength to weight	71.4kN·m/kg38% higher	51.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	7.14MN·m/kg4.03x higher	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	2,673m/s	1,332m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.5W/m·Ksourcehot disk (ISO 22007-2), temperature not stated	not sourced
Thermal expansion	20µm/m·Ksourceflow direction (MD), mean 50-150 °C	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	100µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	839J/kg·KsourceASTM E1269, temperature not stated	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.37mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	176°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	288°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (ISO 75)	64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
Values for	Sumitomo Chemical SUMIKASUPER LCP E6006L (30% glass fibre; high strength, low shrinkage); SUMIKASUPER LCP Technical Note, Version 04 / Nov. 2023, typical values.	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.

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 Plastic LCP GF30 stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

Plastic LCP GF30 is stronger: its tensile strength is 115 MPa against 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (2.4x).

Which is lighter, Plastic LCP GF30 or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,610 kg/m³ for Plastic LCP GF30.

Which is stiffer, Plastic LCP GF30 or SLS PA12 Nylon?

Plastic LCP GF30 is stiffer: Young's modulus 11.5 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in Plastic LCP GF30 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic LCP GF30 or SLS PA12 Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic LCP GF30 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam; SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Plastic LCP GF30	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	4.03x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	1.52x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	10% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	38% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	3% heavier
Strong panel or plate	12% heavier	lighter

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 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density