FDM HIPS vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)

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

FDM HIPS3D printed (FDM)

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

Mechanical	FDM HIPS	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	45MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	18.4MPa2	not stated (yield given)
Flexural strength	31.8MPa2	65MPa12.04x stronger in bending
Elongation at break	1.4%2	10%17.14x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	1.59GPa2	2.3GPa145% stiffer
Density	1,023kg/m³2	1,040kg/m³1
Strength to weight	18kN·m/kg	43.3kN·m/kg2.41x higher
Stiffness to weight	1.55MN·m/kg	2.21MN·m/kg42% higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.393
Shear modulus	not sourced	0.827GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	3.48GPa
Speed of sound	1,246m/s	1,487m/s19% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	FDM HIPS	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K4	0.17W/m·K1
Thermal expansion	base material80µm/m·K4	range80–110µm/m·K1
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	400µm growth19% less	475µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	21.4W/m
Glass transition	99°C2	not sourced
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa86°C2	HDT 1.8 MPa94°C1

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources4 documents: INEOS Styrolution, BASF Forward AM, Covestro

FDM HIPS: BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM.
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection): INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)

1
Terluran GP-22 (ABS) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Flexural strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Elongation at break: nominal strain at break, 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Density: typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Thermal expansion: rangePlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)
2
Ultrafuse HiPS Technical Data Sheet, v2.2 (2019)BASF Forward AMarchived copyFDM HIPS · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalFDM HIPS · Flexural strength: typicalFDM HIPS · Elongation at break: typicalFDM HIPS · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM HIPS · Density: typicalFDM HIPS · Glass transition: typicalFDM HIPS · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
3
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Poisson's ratio: typical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
4
Styrolution PS 486N (HIPS) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionFDM HIPS · Thermal conductivity: base material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typicalFDM HIPS · Thermal expansion: base material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

FDM HIPS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is FDM HIPS stronger than Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stronger: its yield strength is 45 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (2.45x).

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

FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,040 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.3 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) deflects less under the same load.

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

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) 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	FDM HIPS	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	42% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	18% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	11% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	2.41x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	1.79x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	1.54x heavier	lighter

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, FDM HIPS or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stretches further before it breaks: 10% elongation at break against 1.4% for FDM HIPS.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

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

Which expands less with temperature?

FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).