Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Stainless 304
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Stainless 304 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) | 241MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 586MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 55%sourcetypical, annealed, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 193GPasourcetypical, in tension |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical7.85x lighter | 8,030kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 30kN·m/kg1.67x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 24MN·m/kg15.5x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 74.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 161GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 4,903m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 16.2W/m·Ksourceat 100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 16.9µm/m·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth | 84.5µm growth4.73x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 500J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 4.03mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 838W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,399–1,454°Csourcemelting range |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 899°Csourcecontinuous, oxidation (scaling) limit in air |
| 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. | Type 304, annealed flat-rolled (Cleveland-Cliffs 304/304L Product Data Bulletin, May 2021); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual |
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 Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 is stronger: its yield strength is 241 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (13.1x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Stainless 304?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 8,030 kg/m³ for Stainless 304.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 is stiffer: Young's modulus 193 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Stainless 304 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Stainless 304?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Stainless 304 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | FDM HIPS | Stainless 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 15.5x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 40% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.58x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 1.67x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 41% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.17x 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 Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless 304 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.