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FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLA Resin Tough 2000

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLA Resin Tough 2000 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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FDM Polycarbonate3D printed (FDM)
SLA Resin Tough 20003D printed (SLA resin)
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Mechanical
Yield strength53.3MPasourcetypical32% stronger40.4MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)40.4MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength89.4MPasourcetypical33% stronger in bending67MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break9.2%sourcetypical79%sourcetypical8.59x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.39GPasourcetypical33% stiffer1.8GPasourcetypical
Density1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange1,090kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight44.8kN·m/kg21% higher37.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight2.01MN·m/kg22% higher1.65MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)not sourced
Shear modulus0.867GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus3.33GPanot sourced
Speed of sound1,418m/s1,285m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °Cnot sourced
Thermal expansion65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel134µm/m·Ksourcemean 0-150 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing325µm growth2.06x less671µm growth
Specific heatnot sourcednot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourcednot sourced
Thermal shock resistance42.5W/mnot sourced
Glass transition108°Csourcetypical112°CsourceDMA
Max service temperature105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)57°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values forUltimaker 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.Formlabs Tough 2000 Resin V2 (FLTO2002), TDS Rev. 01 10/06/2025; printed on Form 4 at 100 µm, washed in Form Wash V2 10+5 min in >=99% IPA, post-cured 70 °C for 12 min in Form Cure V2. Orientation not stated.

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 SLA Resin Tough 2000 are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than SLA Resin Tough 2000?

FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against 40.4 MPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000 (32%).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLA Resin Tough 2000 is lighter: 1,090 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 1.8 GPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate 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 beFDM PolycarbonateSLA Resin Tough 2000
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter22% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter6% heavier
Stiff panel or plateabout equalabout equal
Strong rod or tielighter21% heavier
Strong beamlighter10% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter5% 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 SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLA Resin Tough 2000 stretches further before it breaks: 79% elongation at break against 9.2% for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 134 µm/m·K for SLA Resin Tough 2000.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelFDM PolycarbonateSLA Resin Tough 2000
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickFDM PolycarbonateSLA Resin Tough 2000
Strength against density

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