Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Plastic PEEK
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Plastic PEEK 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 | 98MPasourcetypical, tensile yield |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | not sourced |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 125MPasourcetypical, 23 C |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | 165MPasourcetypical, flexural stress at yield, 23 C |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 25%sourcetypical, at break |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 4GPasourcetypical (nominal) |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,300kg/m³sourcetypical (crystalline) |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 75.4kN·m/kg2.18x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 3.08MN·m/kg1.73x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.38sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 1.45GPa2.05x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 5.56GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 1,754m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 0.29W/m·Ksourcetypical, average, 23 C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 55µm/m·Ksourceaverage of flow/cross-flow, below Tg (<143 C) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 275µm growth1.73x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 2,200J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 23 °C, DSC (Victrex PEEK 450G TDS, revision Jul 2012) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.101mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 80.1W/m3.78x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 343°Csourcetypical, DSC |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | 143°Csourceonset (midpoint 150 C) |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 240°CsourceUL 746B RTI, mechanical strength (continuous use index) |
| 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. | Victrex PEEK 450G (unreinforced, injection moulded), Victrex TDS rev. March 2026; Poisson from Victrex fluid-management flyer (2020-07) |
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 PEEK?
Plastic PEEK is stronger: its yield strength is 98 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (2.57x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic PEEK?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,300 kg/m³ for Plastic PEEK.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic PEEK?
Plastic PEEK is stiffer: Young's modulus 4 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Plastic PEEK deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic PEEK?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PEEK 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 PEEK |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 1.73x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 21% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 7% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.18x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.59x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 36% 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 Plastic PEEK?
Plastic PEEK conducts heat better: 0.29 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PEEK expands less: 55 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.