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Concrete vs. FDM HIPS

Compare Concrete vs. FDM HIPS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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ConcreteCast
FDM HIPS3D printed (FDM)
Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourcednot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced18.4MPasourcetypical
Compressive strength27.6MPasourcespecified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typicalnot sourced
Flexural strengthnot sourced31.8MPasourcetypical
Elongation at breaknot sourced1.4%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced1.59GPasourcetypical
Density2,240–2,400kg/m³sourcerange for normalweight concrete1,023kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced18kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourced1.55MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.15–0.2sourcegeneral range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)not sourced
Shear modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Bulk modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Speed of soundnot sourced1,246m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (comparative value)0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical
Thermal expansion8–12µm/m·Ksourcetypical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing50µm growth8x less400µm growth
Specific heat900J/kg·Ksourcetypical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.431mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced99°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature65°Csourcecode long-term temperature limit (ASME Code, concrete containments)86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values forNormal-weight portland cement concrete, strength class f'c = 4000 psi (28 MPa) per NRMCA CIP 35; density NRMCA CIP 36; thermal conductivity USDA FPL Wood Handbook; service temperature ORNL/NRC reviewBASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM.

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.

FDM HIPS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Which is lighter, Concrete or FDM HIPS?

FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 2,320 kg/m³ for Concrete.

Which conducts heat better, Concrete or FDM HIPS?

Concrete conducts heat better: 0.9 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.

Which expands less with temperature?

Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 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-CFSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelFDM HIPS
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 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-CFSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickFDM HIPS
Strength against density

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