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Plastic PETG vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V

Compare Plastic PETG vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PETG3D printed (FDM)
Titanium Ti-6Al-4VWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength46.2MPasourcetypical885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strength46.2MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed
Flexural strength78.9MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Elongation at break7.6%sourcetypical16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed
Young's modulus (stiffness)1.94GPasourcetypical107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C
Density1,270kg/m³sourcetypical4,430kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight36.4kN·m/kg200kN·m/kg5.49x higher
Stiffness to weight1.53MN·m/kg25.8MN·m/kg16.9x higher
Poisson's rationot sourced0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements
Shear modulusnot sourced42.7GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced121GPa
Speed of sound1,236m/s5,084m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.21W/m·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), typical6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed
Thermal expansion51µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), typical9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing255µm growth45µm growth5.67x less
Specific heat1,300J/kg·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), DSC at 60 °C (lowest temperature listed)580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.127mm²/s2.57mm²/s20.2x faster
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced3,730W/m
Melting pointnot sourced1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range
Glass transition77.4°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Max service temperature76.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature
Values forUltimaker PETG, 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 v1.00, April 29, 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.

Plastic PETG is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic PETG stronger than Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 46.2 MPa for Plastic PETG (19.2x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PETG or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Plastic PETG is lighter: 1,270 kg/m³ against 4,430 kg/m³ for Titanium Ti-6Al-4V.

Which is stiffer, Plastic PETG or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stiffer: Young's modulus 115 GPa against 1.94 GPa for Plastic PETG, so the same part in Titanium Ti-6Al-4V deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PETG or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

For the same stiffness or strength: Titanium Ti-6Al-4V 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 bePlastic PETGTitanium Ti-6Al-4V
Stiff rod or tie (tension)16.9x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)2.2x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate12% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie5.49x heavierlighter
Strong beam2.05x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate25% 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, Plastic PETG or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.21 W/m·K for Plastic PETG.

Which expands less with temperature?

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 51 µm/m·K for Plastic PETG.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic 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-T7451Brass 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 HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PETGTitanium Ti-6Al-4V
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic 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-T7451Brass 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 Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic PETGTitanium Ti-6Al-4V
Strength against density

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