Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Plastic UHMWPE 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 | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 930kg/m³sourcetypical18% lighter |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg1.61x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg2.51x higher | 0.71MN·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 | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth2.11x less | 1,000µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | not sourced | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating 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. | Celanese GUR 4120 (avg. molecular weight 4.7x10^6 g/mol), typical values on compression-molded specimens; CTE and thermal conductivity from Celanese's generic UHMWPE guide (grade not named) |
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 UHMWPE?
Plastic ABS is stronger: its yield strength is 38.1 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (1.91x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,100 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic ABS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.96 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Plastic ABS deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic UHMWPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS 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 UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2.51x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 46% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 22% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.61x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 30% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 17% 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 Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE 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 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.