Materials / Compare
PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Compare PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | 45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 246–385MPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039) | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 531–621MPasourcetypical: cross direction .. length direction (IPC-TM-650 2.4.4B) | 65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 21.9–25.8GPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2) | 2.3GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 1,920kg/m³sourcetypical, 50% resin content; another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR | 1,040kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 164kN·m/kg3.8x higher | 43.3kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 12.4MN·m/kg5.62x higher | 2.21MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.171–0.177sourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction | 0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 10.2GPa12.3x stiffer in shear | 0.827GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 12.2GPa | 3.48GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,525m/s | 1,487m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1952); direction not stated by the sheet | 0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 13–14µm/m·Ksourcetypical, in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C) | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 67.5µm growth7.04x less | 475µm growth |
| Specific heat | 1,200–1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1461); another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.16mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 324W/m15.1x more resistant | 21.4W/m |
| Glass transition | 180°Csourcetypical, DSC (IPC-TM-650 2.4.25C) | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 130°CsourceUL Relative Thermal Index (UL 796) | 94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C) |
| Values for | Isola 370HR FR-4 laminate (Polyclad PCL-FR-370HR, 180 C Tg multifunctional epoxy, E-glass fabric), copper removed; Isola data sheet Revision C, last updated April 15, 2021. Woven-glass laminate: the sheet gives in-plane values per weave direction (length / cross) and the Z-axis CTE separately; the solver is isotropic per material. | INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022) |
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.
Questions
Is PCB Laminate FR-4 stronger than Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?
PCB Laminate FR-4 is stronger: its tensile strength is 315 MPa against yield strength 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (7.01x).
Which is lighter, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 1,920 kg/m³ for PCB Laminate FR-4.
Which is stiffer, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?
PCB Laminate FR-4 is stiffer: Young's modulus 23.9 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in PCB Laminate FR-4 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?
For the same stiffness or strength: PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | PCB Laminate FR-4 | Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 5.62x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.74x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 18% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 3.8x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.98x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 43% 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 conducts heat better, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?
PCB Laminate FR-4 conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).
Which expands less with temperature?
PCB Laminate FR-4 expands less: 13.5 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).
Among 72 materials
Related comparisons
- PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Concrete
- PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Plastic PPS GF40
- PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Magnesium AZ31B-H24
- PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Magnesium AZ91D
- Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. FDM ASA
- Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. FDM Polycarbonate
- Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic ABS
- Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic PETG