Plastic Nylon vs. Plastic Polycarbonate

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

Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Plastic Nylon	Plastic Polycarbonate
Yield strength	63.1MPa1	65MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	63.1MPa1	65MPa2
Flexural strength	82.9MPa1	97MPa2
Elongation at break	not sourced	125%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.33GPa1	2.4GPa2
Density	1,140kg/m³1	1,200kg/m³2
Strength to weight	55.4kN·m/kg2% higher	54.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	2.04MN·m/kg2% higher	2MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	base material0.43	0.384
Shear modulus	0.833GPa	0.87GPa4% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	3.89GPa17% higher	3.33GPa
Speed of sound	1,430m/s1% faster	1,414m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Plastic Nylon	Plastic Polycarbonate
Thermal conductivity	base material0.33W/m·K51.65x more heat through a fin	0.2W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	base material98–102µm/m·K5	65µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	500µm growth	325µm growth1.54x less
Specific heat	base material1,700J/kg·K545% higher	1,172J/kg·K6
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.17mm²/s20% faster	0.142mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	53.6W/m4% more resistant	51.7W/m
Melting point	188°C1	not sourced
Glass transition	55.1°C1	144°C288.9 °C higher
Max service temperature	HDT 0.455 MPa89.2°C1	UL 746B RTI125°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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Sources6 documents: UltiMaker, Covestro, BASF, Bayer MaterialScience

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 Polycarbonate: Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values

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
Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroPlastic Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typical, tensile yieldPlastic Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, stress at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typical, flexural strengthPlastic Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typical, strain at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Density: typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: typical, through-plane, 23 CPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: typical, 23-55 C, parallel and normalPlastic Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typical, DSC 10 C/minPlastic Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: UL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
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
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: typical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
5
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)
6
Makrolon 2405 Data Sheet, ASTM valuesBayer MaterialSciencearchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Specific heat: typical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766

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 Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against 63.1 MPa for Plastic Nylon (3%).

Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.4 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in Plastic Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

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

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	Plastic Nylon	Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	2% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	4% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	4% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	2% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	3% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	4% heavier

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 Polycarbonate?

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

Which expands less with temperature?

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