Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Aluminum 2024-T351
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Aluminum 2024-T351 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical | 324MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 469MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 19%sourcetypical, in 4D |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 73.1GPasourcetypical37.3x stiffer |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 2,770kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 117kN·m/kg3.38x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 26.4MN·m/kg14.8x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 27.5GPa38.9x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 71.7GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 5,137m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 115µm growth4.15x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 49.5mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 15,561W/m734x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 502–638°Csourcemelting range |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | not sourced |
| Values for | Ultimaker ABS, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v5.00, April 20, 2022. | 2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J |
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.
Plastic ABS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic ABS stronger than Aluminum 2024-T351?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (8.5x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 2024-T351?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,770 kg/m³ for Aluminum 2024-T351.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 2024-T351?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stiffer: Young's modulus 73.1 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Aluminum 2024-T351 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 2024-T351?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 2024-T351 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 be | Plastic ABS | Aluminum 2024-T351 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 14.8x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 2.42x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 33% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 3.38x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.65x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 16% 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 or Aluminum 2024-T351?
Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 2024-T351 expands less: 22.9 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.