Materials / Compare

FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic PLA

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic PLA strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

FDM Polycarbonate3D printed (FDM)
Plastic PLA3D printed (FDM)
MechanicalFDM PolycarbonatePlastic PLA
Yield strength53.3MPa152.5MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength53.3MPa152.5MPa2
Flexural strength89.4MPa196.8MPa2
Elongation at break9.2%118% more ductile7.8%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.39GPa13.25GPa236% stiffer
Densityrange1,180–1,200kg/m³11,240kg/m³2
Strength to weight44.8kN·m/kg6% higher42.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight2.01MN·m/kg2.62MN·m/kg30% higher
Poisson's ratiobase material0.383not sourced
Shear modulus0.867GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus3.33GPanot sourced
Speed of sound1,418m/s1,619m/s14% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30FDM PolycarbonatePlastic PLA
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30FDM PolycarbonatePlastic PLA
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalFDM PolycarbonatePlastic PLA
Thermal conductivitybase material0.2W/m·K41.54x more heat through a finbase material0.13W/m·K5
Thermal expansionbase material65µm/m·K4not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing325µm growthnot sourced
Specific heatnot sourcedbase material1,200J/kg·K5
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.0874mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance42.5W/mnot sourced
Melting pointnot sourced152°C2
Glass transition108°C148.6 °C higher59.1°C2
Max service temperatureHDT 0.455 MPa105°C145.7 °C hotterHDT 0.455 MPa58.8°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30FDM PolycarbonatePlastic PLA
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30FDM Polycarbonate
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources5 documents: UltiMaker, Covestro, NatureWorks
FDM Polycarbonate
Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.
Plastic PLA
Ultimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS dated April 20, 2022.
  1. 1
    Ultimaker PC Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)FDM Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Density: rangeFDM Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
  2. 2
    Ultimaker PLA Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic PLA · Yield strength: typicalPlastic PLA · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic PLA · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic PLA · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic PLA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic PLA · Density: typicalPlastic PLA · Melting point: typicalPlastic PLA · Glass transition: typicalPlastic PLA · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
  3. 3
    Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: base material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
  4. 4
    Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °CFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
  5. 5
    Engineering Properties of Ingeo BiopolymerNatureWorksarchived copyPlastic PLA · Thermal conductivity: base material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °CPlastic PLA · Specific heat: base material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C

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 Polycarbonate and Plastic PLA are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (2%).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 1,240 kg/m³ for Plastic PLA.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

Plastic PLA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.25 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in Plastic PLA deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Plastic PLA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beFDM PolycarbonatePlastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)30% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)12% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate6% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter6% heavier
Strong beamlighter5% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter5% 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, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 9.2% elongation at break against 7.8% for Plastic PLA.

Thermal

Which handles higher temperatures, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate does: 105 °C against 58.8 °C for Plastic PLA, both HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens).

Which conducts heat better, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic PLA?

FDM Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.

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