Materials / Compare

Brass C260 vs. Plastic ABS

Compare Brass C260 vs. Plastic ABS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Brass C260Wrought
Plastic ABS3D printed (FDM)
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Mechanical
Yield strength345MPasourcenominal, strip/flat, 0.5% extension (not 0.2% offset)38.1MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength427MPasourcenominal, strip/flat38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strengthnot sourced61.1MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break23%sourcenominal, in 2.0 in., strip/flat4.6%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)110GPasourcetypical, temper-independent1.96GPasourcetypical
Density8,525kg/m³sourcenominal1,100kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight40.5kN·m/kg17% higher34.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight12.9MN·m/kg7.25x higher1.78MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.34sourcereference value at room temperature (Wieland-M30 = CuZn30 = C26000, rolled products)0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus41.2GPa58.3x stiffer in shear0.706GPa
Bulk modulus115GPa2.97GPa
Speed of sound3,597m/s1,336m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity121W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical
Thermal expansion20µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing100µm growth4.75x less475µm growth
Specific heat377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)37.7mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance12,510W/m590x more resistant21.2W/m
Melting point916–954°Csourcesolidus-liquidusnot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced101°Csourcetypical
Max service temperaturenot sourced86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values forC26000 cartridge brass, H02 half hard flat/strip: CDA Electronic Connector Design Guide (mechanical) + CDA alloy page (physical)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 Brass C260 stronger than Plastic ABS?

Brass C260 is stronger: its yield strength is 345 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (9.06x).

Which is lighter, Brass C260 or Plastic ABS?

Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 8,525 kg/m³ for Brass C260.

Which is stiffer, Brass C260 or Plastic ABS?

Brass C260 is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Brass C260 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C260 or Plastic ABS?

For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C260 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie; Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beBrass C260Plastic ABS
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter7.25x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)3% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2.02x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter17% heavier
Strong beam1.78x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.58x heavierlighter

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, Brass C260 or Plastic ABS?

Brass C260 conducts heat better: 121 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Which expands less with temperature?

Brass C260 expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VNickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrass C260Plastic ABS
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VNickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickBrass C260Plastic ABS
Strength against density

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