Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. FDM HIPS
Compare Plastic ABS vs. FDM HIPS 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 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 18.4MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical1.92x stronger in bending | 31.8MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical3.29x more ductile | 1.4%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical24% stiffer | 1.59GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg1.93x higher | 18kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg15% higher | 1.55MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 1,246m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 400µm growth19% less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | not sourced |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | 99°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa |
| 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. | BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM. |
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 FDM HIPS are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic ABS stronger than FDM HIPS?
Plastic ABS is stronger: its yield strength is 38.1 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (2.07x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or FDM HIPS?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,100 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or FDM HIPS?
Plastic ABS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.96 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Plastic ABS deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or FDM HIPS?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic ABS | FDM HIPS |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 15% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 3% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | about equal | about equal |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.93x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.51x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 34% 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 is more ductile, Plastic ABS or FDM HIPS?
Plastic ABS stretches further before it breaks: 4.6% elongation at break against 1.4% for FDM HIPS.
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or FDM HIPS?
Plastic ABS conducts heat better: 0.17 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.