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Plastic PLA vs. SLA Resin Standard

Compare Plastic PLA vs. SLA Resin Standard strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PLA3D printed (FDM)
SLA Resin Standard3D printed (SLA resin)
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Mechanical
Yield strength52.5MPasourcetypicalnot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength52.5MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)60MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength96.8MPasourcetypical105MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break7.8%sourcetypical8%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)3.25GPasourcetypical18% stiffer2.75GPasourcetypical
Density1,240kg/m³sourcetypicalnot sourced
Strength to weight42.3kN·m/kgnot sourced
Stiffness to weight2.62MN·m/kgnot sourced
Poisson's rationot sourcednot sourced
Shear modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Bulk modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Speed of sound1,619m/snot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.13W/m·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °Cnot sourced
Thermal expansionnot sourcednot sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swingnot sourcednot sourced
Specific heat1,200J/kg·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.0874mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Melting point152°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Glass transition59.1°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Max service temperature58.8°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)59°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values forUltimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated April 20, 2022.Formlabs Clear Resin V5 (FLGPCL05), TDS Rev. 01 March 20, 2024; printed on Form 4 at 100 µm, washed 5 min in >=99% IPA, post-cured 15 min at 60 °C in Form Cure. 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.

Plastic PLA and SLA Resin Standard are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic PLA stronger than SLA Resin Standard?

SLA Resin Standard is stronger: its tensile strength is 60 MPa against yield strength 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (14%).

Which is stiffer, Plastic PLA or SLA Resin Standard?

Plastic PLA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.25 GPa against 2.75 GPa for SLA Resin Standard, so the same part in Plastic PLA deflects less under the same load.

Among 59 materials

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

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