Materials / Compare

Plastic ABS vs. Drywall

Compare Plastic ABS vs. Drywall strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic ABS3D printed (FDM)
DrywallNatural
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Mechanical
Yield strength38.1MPasourcetypicalnot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)1–2MPasourceambient range reported in review (Australian studies)
Compressive strengthnot sourced2.4MPasourcetypical, 70 F / 50% RH
Flexural strength61.1MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Elongation at break4.6%sourcetypicalnot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)1.96GPasourcetypical1–2GPasourceambient range reported in review (Australian studies)
Density1,100kg/m³sourcetypicalnot sourced
Strength to weight34.6kN·m/kgnot sourced
Stiffness to weight1.78MN·m/kgnot sourced
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)not sourced
Shear modulus0.706GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus2.97GPanot sourced
Speed of sound1,336m/snot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typicalnot sourced
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range16.7µm/m·Ksourcetypical, unrestrained, 3.3-32 C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth83.5µm growth5.69x less
Specific heatnot sourced1,090J/kg·Ksourcetypical (from ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, per GA)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourcednot sourced
Thermal shock resistance21.2W/mnot sourced
Glass transition101°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Max service temperature86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)52°Csourcemanufacturer sustained-exposure limit
Values forUltimaker 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, 2022.1/2 in. (12.7 mm) regular gypsum board (ASTM C1396), Gypsum Association GA-235-2019 typical/minimum properties; tensile and E from USDA FPL-co-authored review; service limit from USG Sheetrock 1/2 in. submittal

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 Drywall?

Plastic ABS is stronger: its yield strength is 38.1 MPa against tensile strength 1.5 MPa for Drywall (25.4x).

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Drywall?

Plastic ABS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.96 GPa against 1.5 GPa for Drywall, so the same part in Plastic ABS deflects less under the same load.

Which expands less with temperature?

Drywall expands less: 16.7 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic ABS
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic ABS
Strength against density

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