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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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.
SLA Resin Tough 2000
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.
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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)
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)
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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
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 SLA Resin Tough 2000 are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than SLA Resin Tough 2000?
FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against 40.4 MPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000 (32%).
Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Tough 2000?
SLA Resin Tough 2000 is lighter: 1,090 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Tough 2000?
FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 1.8 GPa for SLA Resin Tough 2000, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Tough 2000?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM 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 Polycarbonate
SLA Resin Tough 2000
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
22% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
6% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
about equal
about equal
Strong rod or tie
lighter
21% heavier
Strong beam
lighter
10% heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
5% 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 SLA Resin Tough 2000?
SLA Resin Tough 2000 stretches further before it breaks: 79% elongation at break against 9.2% for FDM Polycarbonate.
Thermal
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 134 µm/m·K for SLA Resin Tough 2000.