KYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03
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
Which is lighter, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic ABS?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 3,400 kg/m³ for Ceramic Aluminum Nitride.
Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic ABS?
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Ceramic Aluminum Nitride deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic ABS?
For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
Part that must be
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride
Plastic ABS
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
52.8x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
4.13x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
1.77x 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, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic ABS?
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.