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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic Polypropylene

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

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic PolypropyleneBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourcednot sourced
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °Cnot sourced
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °Cnot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg18% higher36.7kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg37% higher1.61MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Shear modulus0.827GPa1.62x stiffer in shear0.511GPa
Bulk modulus3.48GPa3.02GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s1,269m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth450µm growth6% less
Specific heatnot sourcednot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourcednot sourced
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m28.6W/m34% more resistant
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO 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 Polypropylene?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stronger: its yield strength is 45 MPa against 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (36%).

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

Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 1,040 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.3 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, 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 Polypropylene?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) 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 Polypropylene
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter37% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter9% heavier
Stiff panel or plateabout equalabout equal
Strong rod or tielighter18% heavier
Strong beamlighter6% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter1% 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 Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene conducts heat better: 0.195 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic Polypropylene expands less: 90 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 PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic 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 Polypropylene
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 PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic 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 Polypropylene
Strength against density

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