Plastic PMMA vs. SLA Resin Elastic 50A

Compare Plastic PMMA vs. SLA Resin Elastic 50A strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PMMABulk polymer (molded or machined)

SLA Resin Elastic 50A3D printed (SLA resin)

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	not given (tensile used)	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C	3.4MPasourcetypical
Compressive strength	110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical	not sourced
Flexural strength	115MPasourcetypical	not sourced
Elongation at break	5.5%sourcetypical	160%sourcetypical29.1x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term	not sourced
Density	1,190kg/m³sourcetypical	1,010kg/m³sourcetypical18% lighter
Strength to weight	67.2kN·m/kg20x higher	3.37kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	2.77MN·m/kg	not sourced
Poisson's ratio	0.37sourcetypical	not sourced
Shear modulus	1.2GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	4.23GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,665m/s	not sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical	not sourced
Thermal expansion	70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	350µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.109mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	41.5W/m	not sourced
Glass transition	not sourced	-34.5°CsourceDMA
Max service temperature	80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature	not sourced
Values for	Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1)	Formlabs Elastic 50A Resin V2 (FLELCL02), TDS Rev. 01 24.01.2024; parts printed on Form 3, 100 µm, Elastic 50A V2 settings and post-processing; tensile on Die C specimens cut from printed sheets after 3+ h at 23 °C.

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.

SLA Resin Elastic 50A is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic PMMA stronger than SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against 3.4 MPa for SLA Resin Elastic 50A (23.5x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PMMA or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

SLA Resin Elastic 50A is lighter: 1,010 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for Plastic PMMA.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PMMA or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PMMA is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Plastic PMMA	SLA Resin Elastic 50A
Strong rod or tie	lighter	20x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	6.97x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	4.12x 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 is more ductile, Plastic PMMA or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

SLA Resin Elastic 50A stretches further before it breaks: 160% elongation at break against 5.5% for Plastic PMMA.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density