Plastic Nylon vs. Plastic PMMA

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

Plastic PMMABulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Plastic Nylon	Plastic PMMA
Yield strength	63.1MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	63.1MPa1	80MPa227% stronger
Compressive strength	not sourced	110MPa2
Flexural strength	82.9MPa1	115MPa239% stronger in bending
Elongation at break	not sourced	5.5%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.33GPa1	3.3GPa242% stiffer
Density	1,140kg/m³1	1,190kg/m³2
Strength to weight	55.4kN·m/kg	67.2kN·m/kg21% higher
Stiffness to weight	2.04MN·m/kg	2.77MN·m/kg36% higher
Poisson's ratio	base material0.43	0.372
Shear modulus	0.833GPa	1.2GPa45% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	3.89GPa	4.23GPa9% higher
Speed of sound	1,430m/s	1,665m/s16% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Plastic Nylon	Plastic PMMA
Thermal conductivity	base material0.33W/m·K41.74x more heat through a fin	0.19W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	base material98–102µm/m·K4	0-50 °C70µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	500µm growth	350µm growth43% less
Specific heat	base material1,700J/kg·K416% higher	1,470J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.17mm²/s1.57x faster	0.109mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	53.6W/m29% more resistant	41.5W/m
Melting point	188°C1	not sourced
Glass transition	55.1°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	HDT 0.455 MPa89.2°C1	80°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, Röhm, Covestro, BASF

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.
Plastic PMMA: Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1)

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
PLEXIGLAS GS and XT Technical Information (Ref. No. 211-1)Röhmarchived copyPlastic PMMA · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic PMMA · Compressive strength: compressive yield stress, typicalPlastic PMMA · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic PMMA · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic PMMA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, short-termPlastic PMMA · Density: typicalPlastic PMMA · Poisson's ratio: typicalPlastic PMMA · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic PMMA · Thermal expansion: 0-50 °CPlastic PMMA · Specific heat: typicalPlastic PMMA · Max service temperature: max. permanent service temperature
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.

Plastic Nylon is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic Nylon stronger than Plastic PMMA?

Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against yield strength 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (27%).

Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Plastic PMMA?

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

Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Plastic PMMA?

Plastic PMMA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.3 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Plastic PMMA deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or Plastic PMMA?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PMMA 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	Plastic Nylon	Plastic PMMA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	36% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	14% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	8% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	21% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	12% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	8% 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, Plastic Nylon or Plastic PMMA?

Plastic Nylon conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic PMMA expands less: 70 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.