Materials / Compare

FDM Polycarbonate vs. Titanium

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. Titanium strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side
FDM Polycarbonate3D printed (FDM)
TitaniumWrought
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strength53.3MPasourcetypical885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strength53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed
Flexural strength89.4MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Elongation at break9.2%sourcetypical16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.39GPasourcetypical107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C
Density1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange4,430kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight44.8kN·m/kg200kN·m/kg4.46x higher
Stiffness to weight2.01MN·m/kg25.8MN·m/kg12.8x higher
Poisson's ratio0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements
Shear modulus0.867GPa42.7GPa49.2x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.33GPa121GPa
Speed of sound1,418m/s5,084m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed
Thermal expansion65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing325µm growth45µm growth7.22x less
Specific heatnot sourced580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced2.57mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance42.5W/m3,730W/m87.8x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range
Glass transition108°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Max service temperature105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature
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.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 Polycarbonate is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Titanium?

Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (16.6x).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Titanium?

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 4,430 kg/m³ for Titanium.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Titanium?

Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 115 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in Titanium deflects less under the same load.

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

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate 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 beFDM PolycarbonateTitanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)12.8x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.86x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter3% heavier
Strong rod or tie4.46x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.75x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate9% heavierlighter

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 Polycarbonate or Titanium?

Titanium conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronSteel 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 HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelFDM PolycarbonateTitanium
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronSteel 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 Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickFDM PolycarbonateTitanium
Strength against density

Related comparisons