Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Plastic POM/Acetal
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Plastic POM/Acetal 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 | 69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 69MPasourcetypical |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | 99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 75%sourcetypical16.3x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 2.8GPasourcetypical43% stiffer |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,420kg/m³sourcetypical (DuPont product information for Delrin 100 NC010; 'The data listed here fall within the normal range of product properties') |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 48.6kN·m/kg40% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 1.97MN·m/kg11% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.35sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 1.04GPa47% stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 3.11GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 1,404m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth28% less | 610µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.192mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 52.5W/m2.48x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 175°Csourcecrystalline melting point |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed) |
| 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. | DuPont Delrin 100 acetal homopolymer, Table 2 'Typical Properties of Delrin Acetal Resins' (ASTM methods), Delrin Design Guide Module III hosted on delrin.com |
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 POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (1.81x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,420 kg/m³ for Plastic POM/Acetal.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.8 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Plastic POM/Acetal deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic POM/Acetal?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic ABS | Plastic POM/Acetal |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 11% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 8% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 15% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 40% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 15% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 4% 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 POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal stretches further before it breaks: 75% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal conducts heat better: 0.4 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 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.