Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. FDM Polycarbonate
Compare FDM HIPS vs. FDM Polycarbonate 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) | 53.3MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | 89.4MPasourcetypical2.81x stronger in bending |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 9.2%sourcetypical6.57x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 2.39GPasourcetypical1.51x stiffer |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 44.8kN·m/kg2.49x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 2.01MN·m/kg30% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 0.867GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 3.33GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 1,418m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth | 325µm growth23% less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 42.5W/m |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | 108°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| 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. | 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. |
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 and FDM Polycarbonate are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM HIPS stronger than FDM Polycarbonate?
FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (2.9x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or FDM Polycarbonate?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or FDM Polycarbonate?
FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or FDM Polycarbonate?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | FDM HIPS | FDM Polycarbonate |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 30% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 6% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.49x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.75x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 46% 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 is more ductile, FDM HIPS or FDM Polycarbonate?
FDM Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 9.2% elongation at break against 1.4% for FDM HIPS.
Which conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or FDM Polycarbonate?
FDM Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.