Nylon and PPS are both used for parts that need to perform under pressure. Still, they are two very different materials, each with its own strengths. Nylon is tough and smooth. PPS can handle heat and chemicals that almost no other filament can withstand.
If you choose the wrong one, you often won't notice until the part has been in use for a while. And that is exactly what we want to prevent.
What is nylon filament?
Nylon is the common name for polyamide, abbreviated as PA. You’ll see it as PA6, PA12, and as the fiber-reinforced variant PA-CF (with carbon fiber).
Nylon has been used for decades in gears, bearings, cable ties, and hinges. And that’s no coincidence: it combines toughness with a naturally smooth surface.
Tough, smooth, and wear-resistant
The biggest advantage of nylon is its toughness. It bends and springs back instead of breaking. You can deform a nylon part without it cracking.
In addition, nylon has a low coefficient of friction, meaning it’s smooth and slides easily against other materials. This makes it wear slowly and eliminates the need for lubrication. It’s ideal for parts that move against each other.
In terms of heat, unfilled nylon handles around 70 to 100 °C. With carbon fiber added, that increases to somewhere between 110 and 150 °C, depending on the type.
What is nylon used for?
Including gears, plain bearings, hinges, snap-fit joints, cable guides, and tool components. In short: anything that moves, slides, or bends.
3D printing with nylon
You print nylon between 240 and 290 °C, with a bed temperature of 60 to 100 °C. An enclosure (a closed cabinet for your printer) is highly recommended, because nylon is prone to warping: your print is curling at the corners and peeling off the build plate.
The biggest thing to watch out for is moisture. Nylon is extremely hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the air. Leave a spool out for a day and your print will crackle, become porous, and be noticeably weaker. Drying is therefore super important. See also: identifying and fixing damp filament.
What is PPS filament?
PPS stands for polyphenylene sulfide. It is a high-performance engineering plastic that has long been used in industry for pumps, valves, engine compartments, and electrical cabinets.
In the world of printing materials, PPS is right at the top. Only PEEK and PEI go a step further.
Just like with nylon, you will almost always encounter PPS with fibers added: PPS-CF (carbon fiber) or PPS-GF (glass fiber). Pure PPS shrinks so much while cooling that your print will warp in every direction.
PPS is a specialist in heat and chemicals
It can handle continuous temperatures of 200 to 220 °C. That is almost double what fiber-reinforced nylon can withstand.
And then there is the chemical resistance. Below 200 °C, there is no known solvent that affects PPS. Acids, bases, gasoline, diesel, brake fluid, oils, industrial cleaners: nothing happens at all.
Two more things that make PPS unique: it is naturally flame-retardant (it achieves a UL94 V-0 rating without added flame retardants) and it absorbs virtually no moisture. Less than 0.05%, to be precise.
What is PPS used for?
Among other things, for parts in engine compartments, pump components in the chemical industry, connector housings in electrical cabinets, and molds that need to go into the oven.
3D printing with PPS
This is where it gets tricky. You print PPS between 300 and 350 °C, with a bed temperature of 120 to 150 °C and an actively heated print chamber of 60 to 90 °C. The latter is a requirement, because without it, you will get warped prints or layers that delaminate during printing.
On top of that, you'll need a hardened nozzle , because the fibers will wear down a brass nozzle within a few hours.
Mapping the differences
A quick summary before we dive in:
- Temperature: nylon holds up to 110–150 °C, PPS to 200–220 °C.
- Chemicals: nylon is resistant to oil, grease, and fuel. PPS is resistant to almost everything.
- Impact resistance: nylon is very tough. PPS is quite a bit more brittle.
- Moisture absorption: nylon absorbs moisture, PPS hardly does at all.
- Wear: nylon is smooth and self-lubricating, PPS is not.
- Fire safety: PPS is naturally flame-retardant, nylon is not.
- Printability: nylon is tricky, PPS is even trickier.
- Price: nylon is expensive, PPS is significantly more expensive.
We'll go through them one by one below.
Temperature resistance
PPS is the clear winner here. Carbon fiber nylon holds up to somewhere between 110 and 150 °C. PPS keeps going up to 200–220 °C, with short peaks up to 260 °C.
Is your application below 120 °C? Then nylon will do just fine, and with PPS, you'd be paying for performance you don't need. If you're above that, there's no debate. More on this in what is the most heat-resistant filament.
Chemical resistance
Nylon holds up pretty well against oils, greases, and fuels. However, it doesn't stand a chance against strong acids and certain solvents.
PPS is in a different league here. It’s virtually chemically impervious. If your part comes into contact with aggressive fluids, brake fluid, or industrial cleaners, PPS is the only logical choice of the two.
Impact resistance and toughness
Nylon is tough; it gives and springs back. PPS, on the other hand, is stiff and brittle: it doesn't bend, it snaps.
Does your part have to endure impacts, shocks, or vibrations? Then you want nylon. Does it mainly need to stay rigid under constant load? Then PPS is just fine.
Dimensional stability and moisture
People often underestimate this. Nylon absorbs moisture from the air, even after the part has been printed. A nylon part left in a humid room for a few weeks will expand slightly and become noticeably softer. For tight tolerances, that’s a serious problem.
PPS doesn't have that issue. What you print stays exactly as you printed it. For parts that need to be precise to the millimeter, that’s a huge advantage.
Friction and wear
Nylon is naturally smooth and self-lubricating, making it perfect for gears, plain bearings, and anything that moves against something else. PPS is clearly less suitable for that.
Fire safety
PPS naturally achieves a UL94 V-0 rating: if you remove the flame, it stops burning and doesn't drip. With nylon, you have to look for special flame-retardant variants, and those often sacrifice other properties.
For applications in control cabinets, transport, or electronics, this is often a strict requirement. Interesting for installation companies.
Printability and price
Both are tricky, but PPS is clearly a level harder. Nylon works on a good printer with an enclosure. PPS requires a heated print chamber, a hotend capable of 350 °C, and a hardened nozzle.
The same goes for the price: nylon is expensive, PPS is a lot more expensive. And because PPS prints slower and consumes more energy, the price difference in practice adds up to more than just the cost per kilo suggests.
When should you choose nylon and when PPS?
Choose nylon if:
- Your part moves, slides, or rotates, such as gears, bearings, or hinges.
- It needs to absorb impact or shock.
- The temperature stays below 120 °C.
- You want a tough, flexible part instead of a rigid one.
- Budget is a factor.
Choose PPS if:
- Your part structurally exceeds 130 °C.
- Fuel, oil, solvents, or aggressive chemicals are involved.
- Flame retardancy is a requirement.
- The part must remain dimensionally stable in a humid environment.
- Stiffness is more important than toughness.
Are you somewhere in between? Then it's worth checking if PC or ASA might just do the trick. They are significantly cheaper and more than sufficient for many applications. Also read: how to choose the right filament.
Frequently asked questions
Is PPS stronger than nylon?
That depends on what you mean by strong. PPS is stiffer, more heat-resistant, and has much better chemical resistance. Nylon is tougher and can absorb more impact without breaking. So, for a part that takes a beating, nylon is "stronger," but for a part that gets hot, PPS is.
Which material is better for gears?
Nylon, almost always. It’s self-lubricating and wear-resistant, which is exactly what you want for gears. PPS only becomes an option if the gear is operating in a hot or chemically harsh environment.
Does PPS absorb moisture?
Hardly at all, less than 0.05%. Even so, you still need to dry PPS filament before printing because the carbon or glass fiber and the outer layer of the spool do absorb moisture. The difference is in the printed part: it remains dimensionally stable, whereas nylon does not.
Are nylon and PPS waterproof?
Both can be printed to be waterproof with enough walls and infill. However, nylon absorbs water over time and changes size as a result. For long-term contact with water, PPS is more reliable. See also: which filament is waterproof.
Conclusion
The choice between nylon and PPS depends on what your part will be subjected to.
If it’s about movement, wear, and absorbing impact, then nylon is the answer. It’s tough, smooth, and a lot more affordable. If it’s about heat, chemicals, or fire safety, then nylon won't cut it and you need PPS—along with all the costs and printing requirements that come with it.
And you know what the best outcome often is? That both turn out to be unnecessary. For a large portion of functional parts, PETG, ASA, or PC are more than sufficient, at a fraction of the price.
Get help choosing
Still doubting between nylon and PPS? Use our material selection guide or request a free printability check . Tell us what your part will be used for, and we’ll take a look at which material is the best fit—no strings attached, even if it turns out to be a cheaper option.
Already know what you need? Upload your file to our 3D print price calculator and see the cost in under a minute. Curious about general pricing? Read how much does 3D printing cost.
