Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Plastic Polypropylene
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Plastic Polypropylene 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) | 33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527 |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical | 900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1 |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 36.7kN·m/kg2.04x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 1.61MN·m/kg4% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 0.511GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 3.02GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 1,269m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth13% less | 450µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 28.6W/m |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed |
| 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. | LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO 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 Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene is stronger: its yield strength is 33 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (1.79x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 1,023 kg/m³ for FDM HIPS.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polypropylene?
FDM HIPS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.59 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, so the same part in FDM HIPS deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polypropylene?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polypropylene 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 Polypropylene |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 4% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 9% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 10% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.04x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.68x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.52x 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 conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene conducts heat better: 0.195 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 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.