Materials / Compare
FDM PAHT-CF vs. Steel
Compare FDM PAHT-CF vs. Steel 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) | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 92MPasourcetypical | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Flexural strength | 125MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 8.4%sourcetypical | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 3.86GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 1,060kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 86.8kN·m/kg1.77x higher | 49kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 3.64MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg7x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 76.9GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,908m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | not sourced | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | not sourced | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | not sourced | 60µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 13mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 5,390W/m |
| Melting point | 225°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Glass transition | 70°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 170°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | not sourced |
| Values for | Bambu Lab PAHT-CF, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y, dry state; nozzle 290 °C, bed 100 °C, 100 mm/s, 100% infill; annealed and dried 80 °C for 12 h before testing. | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
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 PAHT-CF is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM PAHT-CF stronger than Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against tensile strength 92 MPa for FDM PAHT-CF (4.18x).
Which is lighter, FDM PAHT-CF or Steel?
FDM PAHT-CF is lighter: 1,060 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, FDM PAHT-CF or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 3.86 GPa for FDM PAHT-CF, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM PAHT-CF or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM PAHT-CF is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension).
| Part that must be | FDM PAHT-CF | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 7x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 3% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.99x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.77x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.85x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3.62x 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).