Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. FDM HIPS
Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. FDM HIPS 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 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 18.4MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C | 31.8MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C | 1.4%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.3GPasourcetypical45% stiffer | 1.59GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 1,040kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 43.3kN·m/kg2.41x higher | 18kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.21MN·m/kg42% higher | 1.55MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 0.827GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 3.48GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 1,487m/s | 1,246m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 400µm growth19% less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.4W/m | not sourced |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 99°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | 94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C) | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa |
| Values for | INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022) | BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM. |
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.
FDM HIPS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than FDM HIPS?
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stronger: its yield strength is 45 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (2.45x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or FDM HIPS?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,040 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or FDM HIPS?
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.3 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, 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 FDM HIPS?
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) | FDM HIPS |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 42% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 18% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 11% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.41x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.79x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.54x 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 FDM HIPS?
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) conducts heat better: 0.17 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).