Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Iron
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Iron 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) | 186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical7.68x lighter | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 23.7kN·m/kg32% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 26.3MN·m/kg17x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 80.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 158GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 5,132m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth | 68.5µm growth5.84x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 20.7mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 3,447W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,532°Csourcetypical |
| 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. | Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal. |
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 Iron?
Iron is stronger: its yield strength is 186 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (10.1x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Iron?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Iron is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | FDM HIPS | Iron |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 17x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 49% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.52x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 32% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.64x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.42x 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, FDM HIPS or Iron?
Iron conducts heat better: 73.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Iron expands less: 13.7 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.