Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Aluminum 5052-H32
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Aluminum 5052-H32 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 | 195MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 230MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 12%sourcetypical2.61x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 70GPasourcetypical35.7x stiffer |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 2,685kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 72.6kN·m/kg2.1x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 26.1MN·m/kg14.6x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 26.3GPa37.3x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 68.6GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 5,106m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 138W/m·Ksourcebase material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 23.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 119µm growth3.99x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 963J/kg·Ksourceat 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38 |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 53.4mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 10,822W/m511x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 605–650°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. | 5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat) |
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 5052-H32?
Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (5.12x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 5052-H32?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,685 kg/m³ for Aluminum 5052-H32.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 5052-H32?
Aluminum 5052-H32 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Aluminum 5052-H32 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 5052-H32?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS is lighter for a strong panel or plate; Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | Plastic ABS | Aluminum 5052-H32 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 14.6x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 2.45x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 35% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.1x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 22% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 8% 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 is more ductile, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 5052-H32?
Aluminum 5052-H32 stretches further before it breaks: 12% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 5052-H32?
Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 5052-H32 expands less: 23.8 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.