FDM PAHT-CF vs. Plastic Nylon

Compare FDM PAHT-CF vs. Plastic Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	FDM PAHT-CF	Plastic Nylon
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	63.1MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	92MPa246% stronger	63.1MPa1
Flexural strength	125MPa21.51x stronger in bending	82.9MPa1
Elongation at break	8.4%2	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	3.86GPa21.66x stiffer	2.33GPa1
Density	1,060kg/m³2	1,140kg/m³1
Strength to weight	86.8kN·m/kg1.57x higher	55.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	3.64MN·m/kg1.78x higher	2.04MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	base material0.43
Shear modulus	not sourced	0.833GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	3.89GPa
Speed of sound	1,908m/s33% faster	1,430m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	FDM PAHT-CF	Plastic Nylon
Thermal conductivity	not sourced	base material0.33W/m·K4
Thermal expansion	not sourced	base material98–102µm/m·K4
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	not sourced	500µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	base material1,700J/kg·K4
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.17mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	53.6W/m
Melting point	225°C236.6 °C higher	188°C1
Glass transition	70°C214.9 °C higher	55.1°C1
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa170°C2	HDT 0.455 MPa89.2°C1

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources4 documents: UltiMaker, Bambu Lab, Covestro, BASF

FDM PAHT-CF: Bambu Lab PAHT-CF, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y, dry state; nozzle 290 °C, bed 100 °C, 100 mm/s, 100% infill; annealed and dried 80 °C for 12 h before testing.
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.

1
Ultimaker Nylon Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic Nylon · Yield strength: typicalPlastic Nylon · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic Nylon · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic Nylon · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Nylon · Density: typicalPlastic Nylon · Melting point: typicalPlastic Nylon · Glass transition: typicalPlastic Nylon · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
2
Bambu PAHT-CF Technical Data Sheet, V3.0Bambu LabFDM PAHT-CF · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Flexural strength: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Elongation at break: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Density: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Melting point: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Glass transition: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
3
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)
4
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 PAHT-CF and Plastic Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is FDM PAHT-CF stronger than Plastic Nylon?

FDM PAHT-CF is stronger: its tensile strength is 92 MPa against yield strength 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (46%).

Which is lighter, FDM PAHT-CF or Plastic Nylon?

FDM PAHT-CF is lighter: 1,060 kg/m³ against 1,140 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon.

Which is stiffer, FDM PAHT-CF or Plastic Nylon?

FDM PAHT-CF is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.86 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in FDM PAHT-CF deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM PAHT-CF or Plastic Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM PAHT-CF 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 PAHT-CF	Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	1.78x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	38% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	27% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.57x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	38% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	30% 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).