Plastic PLA vs. SLA Resin Tough 2000

Compare Plastic PLA vs. SLA Resin Tough 2000 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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SLA Resin Tough 20003D printed (SLA resin)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	52.5MPasourcetypical30% stronger	40.4MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	52.5MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)	40.4MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength	96.8MPasourcetypical44% stronger in bending	67MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	7.8%sourcetypical	79%sourcetypical10.1x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	3.25GPasourcetypical1.81x stiffer	1.8GPasourcetypical
Density	1,240kg/m³sourcetypical	1,090kg/m³sourcetypical14% lighter
Strength to weight	42.3kN·m/kg14% higher	37.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	2.62MN·m/kg1.59x higher	1.65MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,619m/s	1,285m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.13W/m·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C	not sourced
Thermal expansion	not sourced	134µm/m·Ksourcemean 0-150 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	not sourced	671µm growth
Specific heat	1,200J/kg·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.0874mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	152°Csourcetypical	not sourced
Glass transition	59.1°Csourcetypical	112°CsourceDMA
Max service temperature	58.8°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)	57°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values for	Ultimaker 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 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.

Plastic PLA and SLA Resin Tough 2000 are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic PLA stronger than SLA Resin Tough 2000?

Plastic PLA is stronger: its yield strength is 52.5 MPa against 40.4 MPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000 (30%).

Which is lighter, Plastic PLA or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLA Resin Tough 2000 is lighter: 1,090 kg/m³ against 1,240 kg/m³ for Plastic PLA.

Which is stiffer, Plastic PLA or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

Plastic PLA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.25 GPa against 1.8 GPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000, so the same part in Plastic PLA deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PLA or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PLA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must be	Plastic PLA	SLA Resin Tough 2000
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	1.59x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	18% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	7% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	14% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	5% heavier
Strong panel or plate	about equal	about equal

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 is more ductile, Plastic PLA or SLA Resin Tough 2000?

SLA Resin Tough 2000 stretches further before it breaks: 79% elongation at break against 7.8% for Plastic PLA.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density