Copper C12200 vs. Plastic ABS

Compare Copper C12200 vs. Plastic ABS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Copper C12200	Plastic ABS
Yield strength	69MPa11.81x stronger	38.1MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	221MPa15.8x stronger	38.1MPa2
Flexural strength	not sourced	61.1MPa2
Elongation at break	45%19.78x more ductile	4.6%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	117GPa159.7x stiffer	1.96GPa2
Density	8,941kg/m³1	1,100kg/m³28.13x lighter
Strength to weight	7.72kN·m/kg	34.6kN·m/kg4.49x higher
Stiffness to weight	13.1MN·m/kg7.35x higher	1.78MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.343	base material0.394
Shear modulus	43.7GPa62x stiffer in shear	0.706GPa
Bulk modulus	122GPa41.1x higher	2.97GPa
Speed of sound	3,621m/s2.71x faster	1,336m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Copper C12200	Plastic ABS
Thermal conductivity	339W/m·K11,995x more heat through a fin	base material0.17W/m·K5
Thermal expansion	16.9µm/m·K1	base material80–110µm/m·K5
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)	98.5mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	7,799W/m368x more resistant	21.2W/m
Melting point	liquidus1,083°C1	not sourced
Glass transition	not sourced	101°C2
Max service temperature	not sourced	HDT 0.455 MPa86.6°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

Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD

Sources5 documents: Copper Development Association, UltiMaker, Wieland, Covestro, INEOS Styrolution

Copper C12200: C12200 phosphorus-deoxidized copper (DHP, the air-conditioning and refrigeration tube copper), tube annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.065 in. wall, copper.org typical values
Plastic ABS: 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.

1
C12200 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C12200 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C12200 · Density: nominalCopper C12200 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C12200 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Melting point: liquidus
2
Ultimaker ABS Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic ABS · Yield strength: typicalPlastic ABS · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic ABS · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic ABS · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic ABS · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic ABS · Density: typicalPlastic ABS · Glass transition: typicalPlastic ABS · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
3
Wieland-K19 (Cu-DHP, C12200) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C12200 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K19 = Cu-DHP = C12200, rolled products)
4
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic ABS · Poisson's ratio: base material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
5
Terluran GP-22 (ABS) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionPlastic ABS · Thermal conductivity: base material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typicalPlastic ABS · Thermal expansion: base material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range

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.

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

Questions

Mechanical

Is Copper C12200 stronger than Plastic ABS?

Copper C12200 is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (1.81x).

Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Plastic ABS?

Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.

Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Plastic ABS?

Copper C12200 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Copper C12200 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Plastic ABS?

For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C12200 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic ABS 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 C12200	Plastic ABS
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	7.35x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	5% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.08x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	4.49x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	5.47x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	6.04x 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 C12200 or Plastic ABS?

Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Plastic ABS?

Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Which expands less with temperature?

Copper C12200 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.