Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Aluminum
Compare Plastic ABS vs. 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 | 276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 310MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 68.3GPasourcetypical34.8x stiffer |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 2,700kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 102kN·m/kg2.95x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 25.3MN·m/kg14.2x 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 | 25.7GPa36.4x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 67GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 5,030m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 118µm growth4.03x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 69mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 19,159W/m904x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidus |
| 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. | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate 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?
Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (7.24x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Aluminum?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Aluminum?
Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Aluminum?
For the same stiffness or strength: 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 | Aluminum |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 14.2x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 2.4x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 33% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.95x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.53x 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 Aluminum?
Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.