Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Plastic PMMA
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Plastic PMMA 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) | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | 115MPasourcetypical3.62x stronger in bending |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 5.5%sourcetypical3.93x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical16% lighter | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 67.2kN·m/kg3.74x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 2.77MN·m/kg1.79x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.37sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 1.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 4.23GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 1,665m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth | 350µm growth14% less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.109mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 41.5W/m |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature |
| 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. | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) |
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 PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (4.35x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Plastic PMMA?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for Plastic PMMA.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.3 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Plastic PMMA deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Plastic PMMA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PMMA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | FDM HIPS | Plastic PMMA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 1.79x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 24% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 10% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 3.74x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.29x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.79x 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 Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA stretches further before it breaks: 5.5% elongation at break against 1.4% for FDM HIPS.
Which conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA conducts heat better: 0.19 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PMMA expands less: 70 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.