Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Plastic PMMA
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Plastic PMMA 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) | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | 115MPasourcetypical1.88x stronger in bending |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 5.5%sourcetypical20% more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 67.2kN·m/kg1.94x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 2.77MN·m/kg1.55x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.37sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 1.2GPa1.71x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 4.23GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 1,665m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 350µm growth36% less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.109mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 41.5W/m1.96x more resistant |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature |
| 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. | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) |
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 PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against yield strength 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (2.1x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for Plastic PMMA.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.3 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Plastic PMMA deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic PMMA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PMMA 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 PMMA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 1.55x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 20% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 10% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 1.94x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.52x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 34% 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 is more ductile, Plastic ABS or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA stretches further before it breaks: 5.5% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA conducts heat better: 0.19 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PMMA expands less: 70 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.