Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. SLS PA12 Nylon Compare FDM HIPS vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Magnesium AZ91D Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall PCB Laminate FR-4 PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Solder SAC305 FDM HIPS 3D printed (FDM) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Magnesium AZ91D Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall PCB Laminate FR-4 PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Solder SAC305 SLS PA12 Nylon 3D printed (SLS) Mechanical FDM HIPS SLS PA12 Nylon Yield strength not given (tensile used) not given (tensile used) Ultimate tensile strength 18.4 MPa 48 MPa 2.61x stronger Flexural strength 31.8 MPa not sourced Elongation at break 1.4 % 18 % 12.9x more ductile Young's modulus (stiffness) 1.59 GPa 1.65 GPa Density 1,023 kg/m³ 930 kg/m³ Strength to weight 18 kN·m/kg 51.6 kN·m/kg 2.87x higher Stiffness to weight 1.55 MN·m/kg 1.77 MN·m/kg 14% higher Poisson's ratio not sourced not sourced Shear modulus not sourced not sourced Bulk modulus not sourced not sourced Speed of sound 1,246 m/s 1,332 m/s 7% faster
1k 10k 0.1 1 10 100 Density (kg/m³) Young's modulus (GPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Wood Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 FDM HIPS SLS PA12 Nylon Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight 1k 10k 10 100 1k Density (kg/m³) Yield strength (MPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Rubber Wood Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Brick PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 FDM HIPS SLS PA12 Nylon Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
Thermal FDM HIPS SLS PA12 Nylon Thermal conductivity base material 0.17 W/m·K not sourced Thermal expansion base material 80 µm/m·K not sourced 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing 400 µm growth not sourced Specific heat not sourced not sourced Heats up and cools (diffusivity) not sourced not sourced Thermal shock resistance not sourced not sourced Melting point not sourced 176 °C Glass transition 99 °C not sourced Max service temperature HDT 1.8 MPa 86 °C 22 °C hotter HDT 1.8 MPa 64 °C
1k 10k 0.1 1 10 100 Density (kg/m³) Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic Nylon Rubber Wood Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate SLA Resin Standard DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 FDM HIPS Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight 0.1 1 10 100 10 100 Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) Thermal expansion (µm/m·K) Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic Nylon Wood Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate SLA Resin Standard DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 FDM HIPS Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Sources 3 documents: BASF Forward AM, EOS GmbH, INEOS Styrolution
FDM HIPS 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.
SLS PA12 Nylon 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. 1 Ultrafuse HiPS Technical Data Sheet, v2.2 (2019) BASF Forward AM archived copy FDM HIPS · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalFDM HIPS · Flexural strength: typicalFDM HIPS · Elongation at break: typicalFDM HIPS · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM HIPS · Density: typicalFDM HIPS · Glass transition: typicalFDM HIPS · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa2 PA 2200 Balance Material Data Sheet EOS GmbH SLS PA12 Nylon · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Elongation at break: typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Density: typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Melting point: typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
3 Styrolution PS 486N (HIPS) Product Data Sheet INEOS Styrolution FDM HIPS · Thermal conductivity: base material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typicalFDM HIPS · Thermal expansion: base material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical
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 SLS PA12 Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions Mechanical Is FDM HIPS stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon? SLS PA12 Nylon is stronger: its tensile strength is 48 MPa against 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (2.61x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon? SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,023 kg/m³ for FDM HIPS.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon? SLS PA12 Nylon is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.65 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in SLS PA12 Nylon deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon? For the same stiffness or strength: SLS PA12 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 SLS PA12 Nylon Stiff rod or tie (tension) 14% heavier lighter Stiff beam (bending) 12% heavier lighter Stiff panel or plate 11% heavier lighter Strong rod or tie 2.87x heavier lighter Strong beam 2.08x heavier lighter Strong panel or plate 1.78x 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).
Which is more ductile, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon? SLS PA12 Nylon stretches further before it breaks: 18% elongation at break against 1.4% for FDM HIPS.
Thermal Which handles higher temperatures, FDM HIPS or SLS PA12 Nylon? FDM HIPS does: 86 °C against 64 °C for SLS PA12 Nylon.