Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Plastic HDPE
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Plastic HDPE 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 | not given (tensile used) | 24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 25.3kN·m/kg40% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg1.64x higher | 0.947MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 0.316GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 2GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 973m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth1.5x less | 600µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.208mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 56.9W/m |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | not sourced |
| Values for | BASF 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. | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values |
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
Is FDM HIPS stronger than Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE is stronger: its yield strength is 24 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (30%).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 1,023 kg/m³ for FDM HIPS.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic HDPE?
FDM HIPS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.59 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in FDM HIPS deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Plastic HDPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Plastic HDPE is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | FDM HIPS | Plastic HDPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 1.64x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 23% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 12% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 40% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 29% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 23% 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 conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.