Materials / Compare
SLA Resin Tough 2000 vs. Steel
Compare SLA Resin Tough 2000 vs. Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 40.4MPasourcetypical | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 40.4MPasourcetypical | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Flexural strength | 67MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 79%sourcetypical | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.8GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 1,090kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 37.1kN·m/kg | 49kN·m/kg32% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.65MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg15.4x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 76.9GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,285m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | not sourced | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 134µm/m·Ksourcemean 0-150 °C | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 671µm growth | 60µm growth11.2x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 13mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 5,390W/m |
| Glass transition | 112°CsourceDMA | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 57°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | not sourced |
| Values for | 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. | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
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 Tough 2000 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is SLA Resin Tough 2000 stronger than Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 40.4 MPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000 (9.53x).
Which is lighter, SLA Resin Tough 2000 or Steel?
SLA Resin Tough 2000 is lighter: 1,090 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, SLA Resin Tough 2000 or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 1.8 GPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, SLA Resin Tough 2000 or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: SLA Resin Tough 2000 is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | SLA Resin Tough 2000 | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 15.4x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 46% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 50% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 32% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.6x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.33x 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 expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 134 µm/m·K for SLA Resin Tough 2000.