Materials / Compare
FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic ABS
Compare FDM Polycarbonate 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 | 53.3MPasourcetypical40% stronger | 38.1MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)40% stronger | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | 89.4MPasourcetypical46% stronger in bending | 61.1MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical2x more ductile | 4.6%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.39GPasourcetypical22% stiffer | 1.96GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 44.8kN·m/kg29% higher | 34.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.01MN·m/kg13% higher | 1.78MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 0.867GPa23% stiffer in shear | 0.706GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 3.33GPa | 2.97GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,418m/s | 1,336m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 325µm growth46% less | 475µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 42.5W/m2x more resistant | 21.2W/m |
| Glass transition | 108°Csourcetypical | 101°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | 105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)21% hotter | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | Ultimaker PC, 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 (file v5.00), April 20, 2022. | 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.
FDM Polycarbonate and Plastic ABS are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic ABS?
FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (40%).
Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic ABS?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic ABS?
FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic ABS?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate.
| Part that must be | FDM Polycarbonate | Plastic ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 13% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | 1% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 29% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 16% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 9% 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 is more ductile, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic ABS?
FDM Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 9.2% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.
Which handles higher temperatures, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic ABS?
FDM Polycarbonate does: 105 °C against 86.6 °C for Plastic ABS, both HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens).
Which conducts heat better, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic ABS?
FDM Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.