Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Brass C360
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Brass C360 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 | 310MPasourcetypical, 0.5% extension under load |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 400MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 25%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 96.5GPasourcetypical, temper-independent |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 8,498kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 36.5kN·m/kg5% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 11.4MN·m/kg6.37x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.34sourcebase material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 36GPa51x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 101GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 3,370m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 116W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 20.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 103µm growth4.63x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 36.2mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 11,997W/m566x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 888–899°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. | C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values |
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 Brass C360?
Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (8.14x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Brass C360?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Brass C360?
Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Brass C360?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Brass C360 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | Plastic ABS | Brass C360 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 6.37x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 10% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.11x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.91x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.71x 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 or Brass C360?
Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.