Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM.
Plastic Nylon
Ultimaker Nylon, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat), conditioned >=24 h at room temperature; Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v2.00, April 20, 2022.
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroPlastic Nylon · Poisson's ratio: base material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Ultramid (PA) Product RangeBASFPlastic Nylon · Thermal conductivity: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)Plastic Nylon · Thermal expansion: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 CPlastic Nylon · Specific heat: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
FDM HIPS and Plastic Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is FDM HIPS stronger than Plastic Nylon?
Plastic Nylon is stronger: its yield strength is 63.1 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (3.43x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Plastic Nylon?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,140 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic Nylon?
Plastic Nylon is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.33 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Plastic Nylon deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Plastic Nylon?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon 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
FDM HIPS
Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
32% heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
9% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
2% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
3.08x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
2.04x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.66x 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).
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Plastic Nylon?
Plastic Nylon conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.