PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. SLA Resin Elastic 50A

Compare PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. SLA Resin Elastic 50A strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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SLA Resin Elastic 50A3D printed (SLA resin)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	246–385MPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039)	3.4MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength	531–621MPasourcetypical: cross direction .. length direction (IPC-TM-650 2.4.4B)	not sourced
Elongation at break	not sourced	160%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	21.9–25.8GPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2)	not sourced
Density	1,920kg/m³sourcetypical, 50% resin content; another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR	1,010kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	164kN·m/kg48.8x higher	3.37kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	12.4MN·m/kg	not sourced
Poisson's ratio	0.171–0.177sourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction	not sourced
Shear modulus	10.2GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	12.2GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	3,525m/s	not sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1952); direction not stated by the sheet	not sourced
Thermal expansion	13–14µm/m·Ksourcetypical, in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C)	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	67.5µm growth	not sourced
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/m	not sourced
Glass transition	180°Csourcetypical, DSC (IPC-TM-650 2.4.25C)	-34.5°CsourceDMA
Max service temperature	130°CsourceUL Relative Thermal Index (UL 796)	not sourced
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.	Formlabs Elastic 50A Resin V2 (FLELCL02), TDS Rev. 01 24.01.2024; parts printed on Form 3, 100 µm, Elastic 50A V2 settings and post-processing; tensile on Die C specimens cut from printed sheets after 3+ h at 23 °C.

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.

SLA Resin Elastic 50A is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is PCB Laminate FR-4 stronger than SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

PCB Laminate FR-4 is stronger: its tensile strength is 315 MPa against 3.4 MPa for SLA Resin Elastic 50A (92.8x).

Which is lighter, PCB Laminate FR-4 or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

SLA Resin Elastic 50A is lighter: 1,010 kg/m³ against 1,920 kg/m³ for PCB Laminate FR-4.

Which is lighter for the same job, PCB Laminate FR-4 or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

For the same stiffness or strength: PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	PCB Laminate FR-4	SLA Resin Elastic 50A
Strong rod or tie	lighter	48.8x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	10.8x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	5.07x 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).

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density