Materials / Compare
Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic ABS
Compare Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic ABS 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 | 149MPasourceone test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 38.1MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 345MPasourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 61.1MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 2.3%sourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 4.6%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 79.8GPasourcestandard value (S.S.Aluminum) | 1.96GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,680kg/m³sourcemeasured (Daiki) | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 55.6kN·m/kg1.61x higher | 34.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 29.8MN·m/kg16.7x higher | 1.78MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 0.706GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 2.97GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,457m/s | 1,336m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 125W/m·Ksourcemeasured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki) | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 21µm/m·Ksourcemeasured, temperature range not stated (Daiki) | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 105µm growth4.52x less | 475µm growth |
| Specific heat | 911J/kg·Ksourcemeasured (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 51.2mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 21.2W/m |
| Melting point | 515–582°Csourcesolidus-liquidus (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 101°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | JIS ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu, about A383 / EN AC-46100) high-pressure die-casting alloy, as cast; physical properties from Daiki Aluminium Industry (ADC12 ingot producer) measured values; modulus from S.S.Aluminum (ADC12 ingot producer) standard values. | 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. |
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 Aluminum ADC12 stronger than Plastic ABS?
Aluminum ADC12 is stronger: its yield strength is 149 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (3.91x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic ABS?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,680 kg/m³ for Aluminum ADC12.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic ABS?
Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic ABS?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum ADC12 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam; Plastic ABS is lighter for a strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum ADC12 | Plastic ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 16.7x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.62x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 41% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.61x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | 23% 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, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic ABS?
Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum ADC12 expands less: 21 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.