BASF Ultradur B 4300 G6 (PBT, 30% glass fibre), injection moulding grade; product information sheet 09/2026, typical values for uncoloured product at 23 °C.
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.
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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic PBT GF30 stronger than Plastic PLA?
Plastic PBT GF30 is stronger: its tensile strength is 140 MPa against yield strength 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (2.67x).
Which is lighter, Plastic PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 1,530 kg/m³ for Plastic PBT GF30.
Which is stiffer, Plastic PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PBT GF30 is stiffer: Young's modulus 9.8 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, so the same part in Plastic PBT GF30 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PBT GF30 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 be
Plastic PBT GF30
Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.44x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
41% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
17% heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
2.16x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
1.56x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
32% 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 PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PBT GF30 conducts heat better: 0.27 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.