Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Nickel Inconel 718
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Nickel Inconel 718 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) | 1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical | 8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 147kN·m/kg8.16x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 24.3MN·m/kg15.7x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 77.3GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 162GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 4,932m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a) |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth | 66µm growth6.06x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 3.19mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 3,680W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer |
| 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. | INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical 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 Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (65.6x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Nickel Inconel 718?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Nickel Inconel 718?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | FDM HIPS | Nickel Inconel 718 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 15.7x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 40% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.6x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 8.16x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.02x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | about equal | about equal |
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 Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.