Plastic PPS GF40 vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare Plastic PPS GF40 vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PPS GF40Bulk 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	195MPasourcetensile strength, 5 mm/min	48MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength	285MPasourceflexural strength at break	not sourced
Elongation at break	1.9%sourcestrain at break, 5 mm/min	18%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	14.7GPasourcetypical, 1 mm/min	1.65GPasourcetypical
Density	1,650kg/m³sourcetypical	930kg/m³sourcetypical1.77x lighter
Strength to weight	118kN·m/kg2.29x higher	51.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	8.91MN·m/kg5.02x higher	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.35sourceglass-reinforced Fortron PPS (class value, not grade-specific)	not sourced
Shear modulus	5.44GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	16.3GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	2,985m/s	1,332m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.2W/m·Ksource40% glass-reinforced Fortron, 25 °C (not grade-specific)	not sourced
Thermal expansion	12µm/m·Ksourceparallel (flow), mean -50 to 90 °C	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	60µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	144W/m	not sourced
Melting point	280°CsourceDSC, 10 °C/min	176°Csourcetypical
Glass transition	90°CsourceDSC, 10 °C/min	not sourced
Max service temperature	270°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa	64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
Values for	Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).	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 PPS GF40 stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stronger: its tensile strength is 195 MPa against 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (4.06x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PPS GF40 or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,650 kg/m³ for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which is stiffer, Plastic PPS GF40 or SLS PA12 Nylon?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stiffer: Young's modulus 14.7 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in Plastic PPS GF40 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PPS GF40 or SLS PA12 Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PPS GF40 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 be	Plastic PPS GF40	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	5.02x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	1.68x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	17% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	2.29x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	44% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	14% 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 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density