Materials / Compare

PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. SLA Resin Tough 2000

Compare PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. SLA Resin Tough 2000 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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PCB Laminate FR-4Composite
SLA Resin Tough 20003D printed (SLA resin)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)40.4MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength246–385MPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039)40.4MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength531–621MPasourcetypical: cross direction .. length direction (IPC-TM-650 2.4.4B)67MPasourcetypical
Elongation at breaknot sourced79%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)21.9–25.8GPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2)1.8GPasourcetypical
Density1,920kg/m³sourcetypical, 50% resin content; another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR1,090kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight164kN·m/kg4.43x higher37.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight12.4MN·m/kg7.53x higher1.65MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.171–0.177sourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length directionnot sourced
Shear modulus10.2GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus12.2GPanot sourced
Speed of sound3,525m/s1,285m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1952); direction not stated by the sheetnot sourced
Thermal expansion13–14µm/m·Ksourcetypical, in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C)134µm/m·Ksourcemean 0-150 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing67.5µm growth9.94x less671µm growth
Specific heat1,200–1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1461); another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HRnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.16mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance324W/mnot sourced
Glass transition180°Csourcetypical, DSC (IPC-TM-650 2.4.25C)112°CsourceDMA
Max service temperature130°CsourceUL Relative Thermal Index (UL 796)57°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values forIsola 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 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.

SLA Resin Tough 2000 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 Tough 2000?

PCB Laminate FR-4 is stronger: its tensile strength is 315 MPa against yield strength 40.4 MPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000 (7.81x).

Which is lighter, PCB Laminate FR-4 or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLA Resin Tough 2000 is lighter: 1,090 kg/m³ against 1,920 kg/m³ for PCB Laminate FR-4.

Which is stiffer, PCB Laminate FR-4 or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

PCB Laminate FR-4 is stiffer: Young's modulus 23.9 GPa against 1.8 GPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000, 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 SLA Resin Tough 2000?

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 bePCB Laminate FR-4SLA Resin Tough 2000
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter7.53x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.07x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter34% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter4.43x heavier
Strong beamlighter2.23x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter1.59x 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 expands less with temperature?

PCB Laminate FR-4 expands less: 13.5 µm/m·K against 134 µm/m·K for SLA Resin Tough 2000.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30PCB Laminate FR-4SLA Resin Tough 2000
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30PCB Laminate FR-4SLA Resin Tough 2000
Strength against density

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