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

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

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium3D printed metal (DMLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °Cnot sourced
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg250kN·m/kg5.78x higher
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg25MN·m/kg11.3x higher
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured
Shear modulus0.827GPa41GPa49.5x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.48GPa116GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s5,000m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange9µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228; EOS Ti64 Grade 23 (=ELI) on EOS M 290 40 µm; condition not stated (sheet's mechanical data are heat treated)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth45µm growth10.6x less
Specific heatnot sourced580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced2.59mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m4,825W/m226x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)not sourced
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)EOS Titanium Ti64ELI (powder 9011-0040; ASTM F136/F3001, i.e. Grade 23) on EOS M400 SF, parameter set Ti64ELI_030_FlexM400_100, 30 µm, as built; ISO 6892-1 A14

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.

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (24.4x).

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 4,400 kg/m³ for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium.

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

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium deflects less under the same load.

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

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium 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)DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)11.3x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.63x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter17% heavier
Strong rod or tie5.78x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.99x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate17% 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 DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

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

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium 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-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 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
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 PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Strength against density

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