Plastic PTFE vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

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

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Plastic PTFEBulk 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	9MPasourcetypical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8)	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	39.3MPasourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm	48MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	350%sourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm	18%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	not sourced	1.65GPasourcetypical
Density	2,160kg/m³sourcetypical (standard specific gravity, ASTM D4894)	930kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	4.17kN·m/kg	51.6kN·m/kg12.4x higher
Stiffness to weight	not sourced	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.46sourcetypical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook)	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	not sourced	1,332m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.25W/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimen	not sourced
Thermal expansion	100µm/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228)	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	500µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591)	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.0827mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	327°Csourcesecond melting peak (sintered polymer), +/-10	176°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	260°Csourceservice temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement)	64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
Values for	Chemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape)	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 PTFE stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is stronger: its tensile strength is 48 MPa against yield strength 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (5.33x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PTFE or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 2,160 kg/m³ for Plastic PTFE.

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

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

Part that must be	Plastic PTFE	SLS PA12 Nylon
Strong rod or tie	12.4x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	7.09x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	5.36x 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 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density