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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic UHMWPE

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

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic UHMWPEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °Cnot sourced
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical930kg/m³sourcetypical12% lighter
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg2.01x higher21.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg3.12x higher0.71MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)not sourced
Shear modulus0.827GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus3.48GPanot sourced
Speed of sound1,487m/s842m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE)
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth2.11x less1,000µm growth
Specific heatnot sourcednot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourcednot sourced
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/mnot sourced
Melting pointnot sourced130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)Celanese GUR 4120 (avg. molecular weight 4.7x10^6 g/mol), typical values on compression-molded specimens; CTE and thermal conductivity from Celanese's generic UHMWPE guide (grade not named)

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 UHMWPE?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stronger: its yield strength is 45 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (2.25x).

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

Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,040 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.3 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, 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 UHMWPE?

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, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic UHMWPE
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter3.12x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.67x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter36% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter2.01x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.54x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter34% 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 UHMWPE?

Plastic UHMWPE conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.

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 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 UHMWPE
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 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 UHMWPE
Strength against density

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