Materials / Compare
FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 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 Polycarbonate 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 Plastic Nylon PA6 Bulk polymer (molded or machined) Mechanical FDM Polycarbonate Plastic Nylon PA6 Yield strength 53.3 MPa 90 MPa 1.69x stronger Ultimate tensile strength 53.3 MPa not stated (yield given) Flexural strength 89.4 MPa not sourced Elongation at break 9.2 % 10 % Young's modulus (stiffness) 2.39 GPa 3.5 GPa 46% stiffer Density range 1,180–1,200 kg/m³ 1,130 kg/m³ Strength to weight 44.8 kN·m/kg 79.6 kN·m/kg 1.78x higher Stiffness to weight 2.01 MN·m/kg 3.1 MN·m/kg 1.54x higher Poisson's ratio base material 0.38 base material 0.4 Shear modulus 0.867 GPa 1.25 GPa 44% stiffer in shear Bulk modulus 3.33 GPa 5.83 GPa 1.75x higher Speed of sound 1,418 m/s 1,760 m/s 24% 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 PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLS PA12 Nylon 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 Polycarbonate Plastic Nylon PA6 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 PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA 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 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 Polycarbonate Plastic Nylon PA6 Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
Thermal FDM Polycarbonate Plastic Nylon PA6 Thermal conductivity base material 0.2 W/m·K 0.33 W/m·K 1.65x more heat through a fin Thermal expansion base material 65 µm/m·K 1.57x less longitudinal 102 µm/m·K 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing 325 µm growth 1.57x less 510 µm growth Specific heat not sourced 1,700 J/kg·K Heats up and cools (diffusivity) not sourced 0.172 mm²/s Thermal shock resistance 42.5 W/m 49.9 W/m 18% more resistant Melting point not sourced DSC 220 °C Glass transition 108 °C not sourced Max service temperature HDT 0.455 MPa 105 °C 87 °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 PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM HIPS 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 Polycarbonate Plastic Nylon PA6 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 PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM HIPS 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 Polycarbonate Plastic Nylon PA6 Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Sources 5 documents: UltiMaker, BASF, Covestro
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 PA6 BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) 1 Ultimaker PC Technical Data Sheet, v5.00 UltiMaker archived copy FDM 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 Ultramid B3S Product Information BASF Plastic Nylon PA6 · Yield strength: typical, dryPlastic Nylon PA6 · Elongation at break: nominal strain at break, dryPlastic Nylon PA6 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, dryPlastic Nylon PA6 · Density: typicalPlastic Nylon PA6 · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic Nylon PA6 · Thermal expansion: longitudinal, 23-55 °CPlastic Nylon PA6 · Specific heat: typicalPlastic Nylon PA6 · Melting point: DSCPlastic Nylon PA6 · Max service temperature: IEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
3 Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design Guide Covestro archived copy FDM 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 Guide Covestro Plastic Nylon PA6 · Poisson's ratio: base material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
5 Makrolon 2405 Technical Data Sheet Covestro FDM 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
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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions Mechanical Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6? Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (1.69x).
Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon PA6? Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon PA6? Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon PA6? For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 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 PA6 Stiff rod or tie (tension) 1.54x heavier lighter Stiff beam (bending) 27% heavier lighter Stiff panel or plate 20% heavier lighter Strong rod or tie 1.78x heavier lighter Strong beam 49% heavier lighter Strong panel or plate 37% 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 Polycarbonate or Plastic Nylon PA6? Plastic Nylon PA6 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 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.