Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic ABS

Compare Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic ABS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Mechanical
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset	38.1MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar	38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength	not sourced	61.1MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar	4.6%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged	1.96GPasourcetypical
Density	8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged	1,100kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	147kN·m/kg4.24x higher	34.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	24.3MN·m/kg13.6x higher	1.78MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged	0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	77.3GPa109x stiffer in shear	0.706GPa
Bulk modulus	162GPa	2.97GPa
Speed of sound	4,932m/s	1,336m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)	0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical
Thermal expansion	13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged	80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	66µm growth7.2x less	475µm growth
Specific heat	435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	3.19mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	3,680W/m174x more resistant	21.2W/m
Melting point	1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range	not sourced
Glass transition	not sourced	101°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer	86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values for	INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values	Ultimaker ABS, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v5.00, April 20, 2022.

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.

Plastic ABS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Nickel Inconel 718 stronger than Plastic ABS?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (31.7x).

Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic ABS?

Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic ABS?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic ABS?

For the same stiffness or strength: Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam; Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Nickel Inconel 718	Plastic ABS
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	13.6x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	35% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.6x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	4.24x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	34% heavier
Strong panel or plate	33% 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, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic ABS?

Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Which expands less with temperature?

Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density