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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic PLA

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

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic PLA3D printed (FDM)
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C52.5MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced52.5MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C96.8MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C7.8%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical3.25GPasourcetypical41% stiffer
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical19% lighter1,240kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg2% higher42.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg2.62MN·m/kg19% higher
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/s1,619m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical0.13W/m·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerangenot sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growthnot sourced
Specific heatnot sourced1,200J/kg·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.0874mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/mnot sourced
Melting pointnot sourced152°Csourcetypical
Glass transitionnot sourced59.1°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)58.8°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 PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated April 20, 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 PLA 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 PLA?

Plastic PLA is stronger: its yield strength is 52.5 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (17%).

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 1,240 kg/m³ for Plastic PLA.

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

Plastic PLA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.25 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Plastic PLA deflects less under the same load.

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

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

Part that must bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)19% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)about equalabout equal
Stiff panel or platelighter6% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter2% heavier
Strong beamlighter8% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter10% 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 PLA?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) conducts heat better: 0.17 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic 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 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 PLA
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic 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 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 PLA
Strength against density

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