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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic Polycarbonate

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

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C65MPasourcetypical, tensile yield
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced65MPasourcetypical, stress at break
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C125%sourcetypical, strain at break
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical2.4GPasourcetypical
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical15% lighter1,200kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg54.2kN·m/kg25% higher
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg11% higher2MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus0.827GPa0.87GPa5% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.48GPa3.33GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s1,414m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth325µm growth46% less
Specific heatnot sourced1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.142mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m51.7W/m2.42x more resistant
Glass transitionnot sourced144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, 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 Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (44%).

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.

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

Plastic Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.4 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Plastic Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

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

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; Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter11% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter13% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter14% heavier
Strong rod or tie25% heavierlighter
Strong beam11% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate4% 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 Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic Polycarbonate expands less: 65 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 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 Polycarbonate
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 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 Polycarbonate
Strength against density

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