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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Nickel Inconel 718

Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Nickel Inconel 718 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Nickel Inconel 718Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °Cnot sourced
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg147kN·m/kg3.39x higher
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg24.3MN·m/kg11x higher
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged
Shear modulus0.827GPa77.3GPa93.4x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.48GPa162GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s4,932m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth66µm growth7.2x less
Specific heatnot sourced435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced3.19mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m3,680W/m172x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical 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 Nickel Inconel 718?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (26.8x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Nickel Inconel 718?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Nickel Inconel 718?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Nickel Inconel 718?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Nickel Inconel 718
Stiff rod or tie (tension)11x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)18% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter1.78x heavier
Strong rod or tie3.39x heavierlighter
Strong beam13% heavierlighter
Strong panel or platelighter1.53x 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 Nickel Inconel 718?

Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Nickel Inconel 718
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Nickel Inconel 718
Strength against density

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