FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	FDM Polycarbonate	SLS PA12 Nylon
Yield strength	53.3MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	53.3MPa1	48MPa2
Flexural strength	89.4MPa1	not sourced
Elongation at break	9.2%1	18%21.96x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.39GPa145% stiffer	1.65GPa2
Density	range1,180–1,200kg/m³1	930kg/m³2
Strength to weight	44.8kN·m/kg	51.6kN·m/kg15% higher
Stiffness to weight	2.01MN·m/kg13% higher	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	base material0.383	not sourced
Shear modulus	0.867GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	3.33GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,418m/s6% faster	1,332m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	FDM Polycarbonate	SLS PA12 Nylon
Thermal conductivity	base material0.2W/m·K4	not sourced
Thermal expansion	base material65µm/m·K4	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	325µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	42.5W/m	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	176°C2
Glass transition	108°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	HDT 0.455 MPa105°C1	HDT 1.8 MPa64°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

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Sources4 documents: UltiMaker, EOS GmbH, 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.
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
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
PA 2200 Balance Material Data SheetEOS GmbHSLS 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
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
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

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 SLS PA12 Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (11%).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	FDM Polycarbonate	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	13% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	6% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	13% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	15% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	19% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	21% 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 Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon stretches further before it breaks: 18% elongation at break against 9.2% for FDM Polycarbonate.