Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser
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.
SLA Resin Standard
Formlabs Clear Resin V5 (FLGPCL05), TDS Rev. 01 March 20, 2024; printed on Form 4 at 100 µm, washed 5 min in >=99% IPA, post-cured 15 min at 60 °C in Form Cure. Orientation not stated.
Clear Resin V5 Technical Data Sheet (2024)Formlabsarchived copySLA Resin Standard · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Flexural strength: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Elongation at break: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalSLA Resin Standard · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
3
Clear Resin V5 Technical Data Sheet (web edition)FormlabsSLA Resin Standard · Density: typical, post-cured (same for 5 min ambient and 15 min at 60 °C), ASTM D792
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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)
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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)
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Thermal Properties of Selected Formlabs SLA ResinsFormlabsSLA Resin Standard · Thermal conductivity: typical, post-cured, ASTM E1530SLA Resin Standard · Thermal expansion: mean -30 to 140 °C, post-cured (5 min ambient cure), TMA ASTM E831SLA Resin Standard · Specific heat: typical, 25 °C, post-cured (5 min ambient cure), DSC ASTM E1269
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 and SLA Resin Standard are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Plastic Nylon stronger than SLA Resin Standard?
Plastic Nylon is stronger: its yield strength is 63.1 MPa against tensile strength 60 MPa for SLA Resin Standard (5%).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon or SLA Resin Standard?
Plastic Nylon is lighter: 1,140 kg/m³ against 1,210 kg/m³ for SLA Resin Standard.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon or SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.75 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in SLA Resin Standard deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon or SLA Resin Standard?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; SLA Resin Standard is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).
Part that must be
Plastic Nylon
SLA Resin Standard
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
11% heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
2% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
about equal
about equal
Strong rod or tie
lighter
12% heavier
Strong beam
lighter
10% heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
9% 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 SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard conducts heat better: 0.54 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic Nylon expands less: 100 µm/m·K against 114 µm/m·K for SLA Resin Standard.