Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Steel
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Steel 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 | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 49kN·m/kg42% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg14.3x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 76.9GPa109x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 60µm growth7.92x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 13mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 5,390W/m254x 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. | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
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 Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (10.1x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Steel?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | Plastic ABS | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 14.3x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 41% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.53x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 42% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.53x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.24x 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 Steel?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.