Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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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 Polycarbonate
Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values
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Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroPlastic Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typical, tensile yieldPlastic Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, stress at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typical, flexural strengthPlastic Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typical, strain at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Density: typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: typical, through-plane, 23 CPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: typical, 23-55 C, parallel and normalPlastic Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typical, DSC 10 C/minPlastic Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: UL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: typical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Makrolon 2405 Data Sheet, ASTM valuesBayer MaterialSciencearchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Specific heat: typical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766
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 Polycarbonate?
Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (3.53x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polycarbonate?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.4 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Plastic Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polycarbonate?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
FDM HIPS
Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
29% heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
5% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2% heavier
Strong rod or tie
3.01x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.98x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.6x 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 Polycarbonate?
Plastic Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 125% elongation at break against 1.4% for FDM HIPS.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.