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Brass C360 vs. Plastic ABS

Compare Brass C360 vs. Plastic ABS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Brass C360Wrought
Plastic ABS3D printed (FDM)
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strength310MPasourcetypical, 0.5% extension under load38.1MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength400MPasourcetypical38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strengthnot sourced61.1MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break25%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod4.6%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)96.5GPasourcetypical, temper-independent1.96GPasourcetypical
Density8,498kg/m³sourcenominal1,100kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight36.5kN·m/kg5% higher34.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight11.4MN·m/kg6.37x higher1.78MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.34sourcebase material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus36GPa51x stiffer in shear0.706GPa
Bulk modulus101GPa2.97GPa
Speed of sound3,370m/s1,336m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity116W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical
Thermal expansion20.5µm/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 swing103µm growth4.63x less475µm growth
Specific heat377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)36.2mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance11,997W/m566x more resistant21.2W/m
Melting point888–899°Csourcesolidus-liquidusnot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced101°Csourcetypical
Max service temperaturenot sourced86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values forC36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical valuesUltimaker 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 C360 stronger than Plastic ABS?

Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (8.14x).

Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Plastic ABS?

Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.

Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Plastic ABS?

Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Plastic ABS?

For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C360 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 C360Plastic ABS
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter6.37x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)10% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2.11x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter5% heavier
Strong beam1.91x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.71x 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 C360 or Plastic ABS?

Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Which expands less with temperature?

Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 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-T6Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel 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 C360Plastic ABS
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel 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 C360Plastic ABS
Strength against density

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