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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic PEEK

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

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic PEEKBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C98MPasourcetypical, tensile yield
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourcednot sourced
Compressive strengthnot sourced125MPasourcetypical, 23 C
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C165MPasourcetypical, flexural stress at yield, 23 C
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C25%sourcetypical, at break
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical4GPasourcetypical (nominal)
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical1,300kg/m³sourcetypical (crystalline)
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg75.4kN·m/kg1.74x higher
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg3.08MN·m/kg39% higher
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.38sourcetypical
Shear modulus0.827GPa1.45GPa1.75x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.48GPa5.56GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s1,754m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical0.29W/m·Ksourcetypical, average, 23 C
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange55µm/m·Ksourceaverage of flow/cross-flow, below Tg (<143 C)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth275µm growth1.73x less
Specific heatnot sourced2,200J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 23 °C, DSC (Victrex PEEK 450G TDS, revision Jul 2012)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.101mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m80.1W/m3.75x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced343°Csourcetypical, DSC
Glass transitionnot sourced143°Csourceonset (midpoint 150 C)
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)240°CsourceUL 746B RTI, mechanical strength (continuous use index)
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)Victrex PEEK 450G (unreinforced, injection moulded), Victrex TDS rev. March 2026; Poisson from Victrex fluid-management flyer (2020-07)

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 PEEK?

Plastic PEEK is stronger: its yield strength is 98 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (2.18x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic PEEK?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 1,300 kg/m³ for Plastic PEEK.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Plastic PEEK?

Plastic PEEK is stiffer: Young's modulus 4 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Plastic PEEK deflects less under the same load.

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

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

Part that must bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PEEK
Stiff rod or tie (tension)39% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)6% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter4% heavier
Strong rod or tie1.74x heavierlighter
Strong beam34% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate18% heavierlighter

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 PEEK?

Plastic PEEK conducts heat better: 0.29 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic PEEK expands less: 55 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 C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic 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)Plastic PEEK
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 C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic 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)Plastic PEEK
Strength against density

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