Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Titanium

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

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C	885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strength	not sourced	940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed
Flexural strength	65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C	not sourced
Elongation at break	10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C	16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.3GPasourcetypical	107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C
Density	1,040kg/m³sourcetypical	4,430kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight	43.3kN·m/kg	200kN·m/kg4.62x higher
Stiffness to weight	2.21MN·m/kg	25.8MN·m/kg11.7x higher
Poisson's ratio	0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)	0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements
Shear modulus	0.827GPa	42.7GPa51.6x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	3.48GPa	121GPa
Speed of sound	1,487m/s	5,084m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical	6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed
Thermal expansion	80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange	9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	45µm growth10.6x less
Specific heat	not sourced	580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	2.57mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	21.4W/m	3,730W/m175x more resistant
Melting point	not sourced	1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature	94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)	400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature
Values for	INEOS 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?

Titanium 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?

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

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

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

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

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; 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 be	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)	Titanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	11.7x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	1.66x heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	16% heavier
Strong rod or tie	4.62x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	1.71x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	4% heavier	lighter

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?

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?

Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density