Plastic ABS vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare Plastic ABS vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Plastic ABS	SLS PA12 Nylon
Yield strength	38.1MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	38.1MPa1	48MPa226% stronger
Flexural strength	61.1MPa1	not sourced
Elongation at break	4.6%1	18%23.91x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	1.96GPa119% stiffer	1.65GPa2
Density	1,100kg/m³1	930kg/m³218% lighter
Strength to weight	34.6kN·m/kg	51.6kN·m/kg49% higher
Stiffness to weight	1.78MN·m/kg	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	base material0.393	not sourced
Shear modulus	0.706GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	2.97GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,336m/s	1,332m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Plastic ABS	SLS PA12 Nylon
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K4	not sourced
Thermal expansion	base material80–110µm/m·K4	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	21.2W/m	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	176°C2
Glass transition	101°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	HDT 0.455 MPa86.6°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, INEOS Styrolution

Plastic ABS: Ultimaker ABS, 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 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 ABS Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic ABS · Yield strength: typicalPlastic ABS · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic ABS · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic ABS · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic ABS · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic ABS · Density: typicalPlastic ABS · Glass transition: typicalPlastic ABS · 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 copyPlastic ABS · Poisson's ratio: base material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
4
Terluran GP-22 (ABS) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionPlastic ABS · Thermal conductivity: base material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typicalPlastic ABS · Thermal expansion: base material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range

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.

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

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic ABS stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is stronger: its tensile strength is 48 MPa against yield strength 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (26%).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,100 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or SLS PA12 Nylon?

Plastic ABS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.96 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in Plastic ABS deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or SLS PA12 Nylon?

For the same stiffness or strength: 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	Plastic ABS	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	about equal	about equal
Stiff beam (bending)	8% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	12% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	49% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	38% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	33% 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, Plastic ABS or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon stretches further before it breaks: 18% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.