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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic PETG

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

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic PETG3D printed (FDM)
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C46.2MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced46.2MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C78.9MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C7.6%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical19% stiffer1.94GPasourcetypical
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical22% lighter1,270kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg19% higher36.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg45% higher1.53MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)not sourced
Shear modulus0.827GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus3.48GPanot sourced
Speed of sound1,487m/s1,236m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical0.21W/m·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), typical
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange51µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), typical
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth255µm growth1.86x less
Specific heatnot sourced1,300J/kg·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), DSC at 60 °C (lowest temperature listed)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.127mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/mnot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced77.4°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)76.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)Ultimaker PETG, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v1.00, April 29, 2022.

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.

Plastic PETG is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than Plastic PETG?

Plastic PETG is stronger: its yield strength is 46.2 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (3%).

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 1,270 kg/m³ for Plastic PETG.

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.3 GPa against 1.94 GPa for Plastic PETG, 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 PETG?

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 bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PETG
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter45% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter33% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter29% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter19% heavier
Strong beamlighter20% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter21% 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 PETG?

Plastic PETG conducts heat better: 0.21 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic PETG expands less: 51 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 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 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)Plastic PETG
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic 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 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)Plastic PETG
Strength against density

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