FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic PLA

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic PLA 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	53.3MPasourcetypical	52.5MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)	52.5MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength	89.4MPasourcetypical	96.8MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	9.2%sourcetypical18% more ductile	7.8%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.39GPasourcetypical	3.25GPasourcetypical36% stiffer
Density	1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange	1,240kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	44.8kN·m/kg6% higher	42.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	2.01MN·m/kg	2.62MN·m/kg30% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)	not sourced
Shear modulus	0.867GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	3.33GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,418m/s	1,619m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C	0.13W/m·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C
Thermal expansion	65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	325µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	not sourced	1,200J/kg·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.0874mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	42.5W/m	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	152°Csourcetypical
Glass transition	108°Csourcetypical	59.1°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)1.78x hotter	58.8°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values for	Ultimaker PC, 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 (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.	Ultimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated 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.

FDM Polycarbonate and Plastic PLA are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (2%).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 1,240 kg/m³ for Plastic PLA.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

Plastic PLA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.25 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in Plastic PLA deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Plastic PLA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	FDM Polycarbonate	Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	30% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	12% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	6% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	6% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	5% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	5% 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 is more ductile, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 9.2% elongation at break against 7.8% for Plastic PLA.

Which handles higher temperatures, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate does: 105 °C against 58.8 °C for Plastic PLA, both HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens).

Which conducts heat better, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density