Plastic Polycarbonate vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

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

Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Plastic Polycarbonate	SLS PA12 Nylon
Yield strength	65MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	65MPa1	48MPa2
Flexural strength	97MPa1	not sourced
Elongation at break	125%16.94x more ductile	18%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.4GPa145% stiffer	1.65GPa2
Density	1,200kg/m³1	930kg/m³229% lighter
Strength to weight	54.2kN·m/kg5% higher	51.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	2MN·m/kg13% higher	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.383	not sourced
Shear modulus	0.87GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	3.33GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,414m/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	Plastic Polycarbonate	SLS PA12 Nylon
Thermal conductivity	0.2W/m·K1	not sourced
Thermal expansion	65µm/m·K1	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	325µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	1,172J/kg·K4	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.142mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	51.7W/m	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	176°C2
Glass transition	144°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	UL 746B RTI125°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: Covestro, EOS GmbH, Bayer MaterialScience

Plastic Polycarbonate: Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values
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
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
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 Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: typical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
4
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.

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

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic Polycarbonate stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (35%).

Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.4 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in Plastic Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

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

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

Part that must be	Plastic Polycarbonate	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	13% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	7% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	14% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	5% heavier
Strong beam	5% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	11% 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 Polycarbonate or SLS PA12 Nylon?

Plastic Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 125% elongation at break against 18% for SLS PA12 Nylon.