Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Plastic POM/Acetal
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Plastic POM/Acetal 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) | 69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 69MPasourcetypical3.75x stronger |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | 99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 75%sourcetypical53.6x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 2.8GPasourcetypical1.76x stiffer |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,420kg/m³sourcetypical (DuPont product information for Delrin 100 NC010; 'The data listed here fall within the normal range of product properties') |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 48.6kN·m/kg2.7x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 1.97MN·m/kg27% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.35sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 1.04GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 3.11GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 1,404m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth1.52x less | 610µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.192mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 52.5W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 175°Csourcecrystalline melting point |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed) |
| 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. | DuPont Delrin 100 acetal homopolymer, Table 2 'Typical Properties of Delrin Acetal Resins' (ASTM methods), Delrin Design Guide Module III hosted on delrin.com |
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 POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (3.75x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Plastic POM/Acetal?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,420 kg/m³ for Plastic POM/Acetal.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.8 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Plastic POM/Acetal deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Plastic POM/Acetal?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | FDM HIPS | Plastic POM/Acetal |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 27% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 5% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 15% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.7x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.74x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 40% 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 POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal stretches further before it breaks: 75% elongation at break against 1.4% for FDM HIPS.
Which conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.