Materials / Compare

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Plastic HDPE

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic HDPEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
MechanicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic HDPE
Yield strength45MPa11.88x stronger24MPa2
Ultimate tensile strengthnot stated (yield given)not stated (yield given)
Flexural strength65MPa1not sourced
Elongation at break10%1not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPa12.56x stiffer0.9GPa2
Density1,040kg/m³1950kg/m³2
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg1.71x higher25.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg2.33x higher0.947MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.393base material0.4–0.454
Shear modulus0.827GPa2.62x stiffer in shear0.316GPa
Bulk modulus3.48GPa1.74x higher2GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s1.53x faster973m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic 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 PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM 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 GF30Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic HDPE
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic 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 PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM 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 GF30Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic HDPE
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic HDPE
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·K1base material0.4–0.49W/m·K4
Thermal expansionrange80–110µm/m·K1base material120µm/m·K4
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth26% less600µm growth
Specific heatnot sourcedbase material2,250J/kg·K4
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced0.208mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m56.9W/m2.66x more resistant
Max service temperatureHDT 1.8 MPa94°C1not sourced
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic 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 PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM 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 GF30Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic HDPE
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 PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM 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 GF30Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic HDPE
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: INEOS Styrolution, LyondellBasell, Covestro, INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)
Plastic HDPE
LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values
  1. 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. 2
    Hostalen 23050 B Product DataLyondellBasellPlastic HDPE · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527Plastic HDPE · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527Plastic HDPE · Density: typical, ISO 1183
  3. 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. 4
    Typical Engineering Properties of High Density PolyethyleneINEOS Olefins & Polymers USAarchived copyPlastic HDPE · Poisson's ratio: base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)Plastic HDPE · Thermal conductivity: base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)Plastic HDPE · Thermal expansion: base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)Plastic HDPE · Specific heat: base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)

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.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than Plastic HDPE?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stronger: its yield strength is 45 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (1.88x).

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

Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 1,040 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

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

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.3 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) deflects less under the same load.

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

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 bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic HDPE
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2.33x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter46% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter25% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.71x heavier
Strong beamlighter39% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter25% 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).

Thermal

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

Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.

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