Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Compare Plastic ABS vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 | 270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 101kN·m/kg2.92x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 27MN·m/kg15.1x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.33sourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000) |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 27.1GPa38.4x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 70.6GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 5,193m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 100µm growth4.75x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 42.8mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 13,819W/m652x more resistant |
| 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. | EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10 |
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 and DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic ABS stronger than DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (7.09x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 | DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 15.1x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 2.5x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 37% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.92x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.52x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 10% 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 DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.