Copper C10100 vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)

Compare Copper C10100 vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Copper C10100	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Yield strength	69MPa11.53x stronger	45MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	221MPa1	not stated (yield given)
Flexural strength	not sourced	65MPa2
Elongation at break	45%14.5x more ductile	10%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	117GPa151x stiffer	2.3GPa2
Density	8,941kg/m³1	1,040kg/m³28.6x lighter
Strength to weight	7.72kN·m/kg	43.3kN·m/kg5.61x higher
Stiffness to weight	13.1MN·m/kg5.93x higher	2.21MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.343	0.394
Shear modulus	43.7GPa52.9x stiffer in shear	0.827GPa
Bulk modulus	122GPa35x higher	3.48GPa
Speed of sound	3,621m/s2.43x faster	1,487m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Copper C10100	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Thermal conductivity	391W/m·K12,301x more heat through a fin	0.17W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	16.9µm/m·K1	range80–110µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	84.5µm growth5.62x less	475µm growth
Specific heat	385J/kg·K1	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	114mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	8,992W/m421x more resistant	21.4W/m
Melting point	melting point1,083°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	not sourced	HDT 1.8 MPa94°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources4 documents: Copper Development Association, INEOS Styrolution, Wieland, Covestro

Copper C10100: C10100 oxygen-free electronic (OFE) copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.04 in. flat products, copper.org typical values
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection): INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)

1
C10100 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C10100 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C10100 · Density: nominalCopper C10100 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C10100 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Melting point: melting point (liquidus = solidus, pure copper)
2
Terluran GP-22 (ABS) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Flexural strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Elongation at break: nominal strain at break, 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Density: typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Thermal expansion: rangePlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)
3
Wieland-K09 (Cu-OFE, C10100) Data SheetWielandCopper C10100 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K09 = Cu-OFE = C10100, rolled products)
4
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Poisson's ratio: typical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Copper C10100 stronger than Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Copper C10100 is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (1.53x).

Which is lighter, Copper C10100 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.

Which is stiffer, Copper C10100 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Copper C10100 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Copper C10100 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C10100 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C10100 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Copper C10100	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	5.93x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	20% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.32x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	5.61x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	6.47x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	6.94x 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 is more ductile, Copper C10100 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 10% for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C10100 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Copper C10100 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).