Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic HDPE
Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic HDPE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C | 24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.3GPasourcetypical | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 |
| Density | 1,040kg/m³sourcetypical | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 |
| Strength to weight | 43.3kN·m/kg1.71x higher | 25.3kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.21MN·m/kg2.33x higher | 0.947MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Shear modulus | 0.827GPa2.62x stiffer in shear | 0.316GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 3.48GPa | 2GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,487m/s | 973m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical | 0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth26% less | 600µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.208mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.4W/m | 56.9W/m2.66x more resistant |
| Max service temperature | 94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C) | not sourced |
| Values for | INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022) | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than Plastic HDPE?
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stronger: its yield strength is 45 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (1.88x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 1,040 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.3 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic HDPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) 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 ABS (bulk/injection) | Plastic HDPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2.33x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 46% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 25% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.71x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 39% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 25% 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).
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.