FDM HIPS vs. Plastic Polypropylene

Compare FDM HIPS vs. Plastic Polypropylene strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

FDM HIPS3D printed (FDM)

Plastic PolypropyleneBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	FDM HIPS	Plastic Polypropylene
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	33MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	18.4MPa2	not stated (yield given)
Flexural strength	31.8MPa2	not sourced
Elongation at break	1.4%2	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	1.59GPa2	1.45GPa1
Density	1,023kg/m³2	900kg/m³114% lighter
Strength to weight	18kN·m/kg	36.7kN·m/kg2.04x higher
Stiffness to weight	1.55MN·m/kg	1.61MN·m/kg4% higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	base material0.423
Shear modulus	not sourced	0.511GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	3.02GPa
Speed of sound	1,246m/s	1,269m/s2% 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 Polypropylene
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K4	base material0.17–0.22W/m·K3
Thermal expansion	base material80µm/m·K4	base material80–100µm/m·K3
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	400µm growth13% less	450µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	28.6W/m
Glass transition	99°C2	not sourced
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa86°C2	HDT 0.45 MPa90°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: LyondellBasell, BASF Forward AM, INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, INEOS Styrolution

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 Polypropylene: LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO values

1
Moplen HP501H Product DataLyondellBasellPlastic Polypropylene · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527Plastic Polypropylene · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, tensile modulus ISO 527Plastic Polypropylene · Density: typical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1Plastic Polypropylene · Max service temperature: HDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed
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
Typical Engineering Properties of PolypropyleneINEOS Olefins & Polymers USAarchived copyPlastic Polypropylene · Poisson's ratio: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)Plastic Polypropylene · Thermal conductivity: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)Plastic Polypropylene · Thermal expansion: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
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 Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene is stronger: its yield strength is 33 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (1.79x).

Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 1,023 kg/m³ for FDM HIPS.

Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polypropylene?

FDM HIPS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.59 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, so the same part in FDM HIPS deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polypropylene?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polypropylene 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 Polypropylene
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	4% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	9% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	10% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	2.04x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	1.68x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	1.52x 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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Plastic Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene conducts heat better: 0.195 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.

Which expands less with temperature?

FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.