Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Rubber

Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Rubber strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

RubberBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	not sourced	23MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength	65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C	not sourced
Elongation at break	10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C	830%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.3GPasourcetypical	not sourced
Density	1,040kg/m³sourcetypical	960kg/m³sourcetypical (specific gravity)
Strength to weight	43.3kN·m/kg1.81x higher	24kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	2.21MN·m/kg	not sourced
Poisson's ratio	0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)	0.5sourcegovernment (NBS J. Res. 68A, 1964): computed by NBS for peroxide-cured gum NR vulcanizate, 25 °C, infinitesimal deformation0.49 in the solver: the linear element locks as the ratio nears 0.5 (nearly incompressible).
Shear modulus	0.827GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	3.48GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,487m/s	not sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical	0.151W/m·Ksourcegovernment selected value (US Army Natick Laboratories TR 66-49-PR, 1966), soft vulcanized natural rubber, 25 °C
Thermal expansion	80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	not sourced	1,881J/kg·Ksourcegovernment (NBS J. Res. 68A, Table 7; values observed for unvulcanized NR by Bekkedahl and Matheson), 25 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.0836mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	21.4W/m	not sourced
Max service temperature	94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)	70°Csourcecontinuous use operating range
Values for	INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)	Weir Minerals Linatex Premium rubber (95 % natural rubber), typical physical properties, spec sheet WMD0118/202305

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.

Questions

Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than Rubber?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stronger: its yield strength is 45 MPa against tensile strength 23 MPa for Rubber (1.96x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Rubber?

Rubber is lighter: 960 kg/m³ against 1,040 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Rubber?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)	Rubber
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.81x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	44% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	29% 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 conducts heat better, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Rubber?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) conducts heat better: 0.17 W/m·K against 0.151 W/m·K for Rubber.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density