Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Plastic HDPE
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Plastic HDPE 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 | 24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg37% higher | 25.3kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg1.88x higher | 0.947MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa2.23x stiffer in shear | 0.316GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 2GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 973m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth26% less | 600µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.208mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 56.9W/m2.68x 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. | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO 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 Plastic HDPE?
Plastic ABS is stronger: its yield strength is 38.1 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (1.59x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 1,100 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic ABS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.96 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Plastic ABS deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic HDPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS 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 | Plastic HDPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 1.88x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 28% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 12% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 37% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 18% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 9% 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 Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic ABS expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.