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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V

Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Titanium Ti-6Al-4VWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °Cnot sourced
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical4,430kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg200kN·m/kg4.62x higher
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg25.8MN·m/kg11.7x higher
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements
Shear modulus0.827GPa42.7GPa51.6x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.48GPa121GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s5,084m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth45µm growth10.6x less
Specific heatnot sourced580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced2.57mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m3,730W/m175x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)TIMETAL 6-4 (Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5) annealed plate typical (TIMET properties manual) + TIMET datasheet TMC-0150 physical properties

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 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (19.7x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 4,430 kg/m³ for Titanium Ti-6Al-4V.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stiffer: Young's modulus 115 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Titanium Ti-6Al-4V deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; Titanium Ti-6Al-4V 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)Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
Stiff rod or tie (tension)11.7x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.66x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter16% heavier
Strong rod or tie4.62x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.71x 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 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V expands less: 9 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-T7451Brass 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)Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
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-T7451Brass 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)Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
Strength against density

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