Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Titanium
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Titanium 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) | 885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical | 4,430kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 200kN·m/kg11.1x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 25.8MN·m/kg16.7x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 42.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 121GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 5,084m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth | 45µm growth8.89x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 2.57mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 3,730W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 400°Csourceupper recommended use 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. | TIMETAL 6-4 (Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5) annealed plate typical (TIMET properties manual) + TIMET datasheet TMC-0150 physical properties |
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 Titanium?
Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (48.1x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Titanium?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 4,430 kg/m³ for Titanium.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Titanium?
Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 115 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Titanium deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Titanium?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; Titanium 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 | Titanium |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 16.7x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 1.96x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 4% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 11.1x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 3.05x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.6x 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 Titanium?
Titanium conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.