FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic Nylon

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	FDM Polycarbonate	Plastic Nylon
Yield strength	53.3MPa1	63.1MPa218% stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	53.3MPa1	63.1MPa218% stronger
Flexural strength	89.4MPa1	82.9MPa2
Elongation at break	9.2%1	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.39GPa1	2.33GPa2
Density	range1,180–1,200kg/m³1	1,140kg/m³2
Strength to weight	44.8kN·m/kg	55.4kN·m/kg24% higher
Stiffness to weight	2.01MN·m/kg	2.04MN·m/kg2% higher
Poisson's ratio	base material0.383	base material0.44
Shear modulus	0.867GPa4% stiffer in shear	0.833GPa
Bulk modulus	3.33GPa	3.89GPa17% higher
Speed of sound	1,418m/s	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 Polycarbonate	Plastic Nylon
Thermal conductivity	base material0.2W/m·K5	base material0.33W/m·K61.65x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	base material65µm/m·K5	base material98–102µm/m·K6
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	325µm growth1.54x less	500µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	base material1,700J/kg·K6
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.17mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	42.5W/m	53.6W/m26% more resistant
Melting point	not sourced	188°C2
Glass transition	108°C152.6 °C higher	55.1°C2
Max service temperature	HDT 0.455 MPa105°C115.3 °C hotter	HDT 0.455 MPa89.2°C2

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

Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD

Sources6 documents: UltiMaker, Covestro, BASF

FDM Polycarbonate: Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); 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 (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.
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 PC Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)FDM Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Density: rangeFDM Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
2
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)
3
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: base material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
4
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)
5
Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °CFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
6
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 Polycarbonate and Plastic Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is stronger: its yield strength is 63.1 MPa against 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (18%).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate 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 Polycarbonate	Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	2% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	3% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	3% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	24% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	17% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	14% 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 handles higher temperatures, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

FDM Polycarbonate does: 105 °C against 89.2 °C for Plastic Nylon, both HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens).

Which conducts heat better, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.