Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic ABS
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic ABS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 38.1MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 61.1MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | 4.6%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) | 1.96GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg2.92x higher | 34.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg15.1x higher | 1.78MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000) | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa38.4x stiffer in shear | 0.706GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 2.97GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 1,336m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth4.75x less | 475µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m652x more resistant | 21.2W/m |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 101°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10 | 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.
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum and Plastic ABS are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum stronger than Plastic ABS?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (7.09x).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic ABS?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic ABS?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic ABS?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum | Plastic ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 15.1x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.5x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 37% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.92x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.52x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 10% 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, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic ABS?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.