Plastic ABS vs. Plastic HDPE

Compare Plastic ABS vs. Plastic HDPE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic HDPEBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Plastic ABS	Plastic HDPE
Yield strength	38.1MPa11.59x stronger	24MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	38.1MPa1	not stated (yield given)
Flexural strength	61.1MPa1	not sourced
Elongation at break	4.6%1	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	1.96GPa12.18x stiffer	0.9GPa2
Density	1,100kg/m³1	950kg/m³216% lighter
Strength to weight	34.6kN·m/kg37% higher	25.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	1.78MN·m/kg1.88x higher	0.947MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	base material0.393	base material0.4–0.454
Shear modulus	0.706GPa2.23x stiffer in shear	0.316GPa
Bulk modulus	2.97GPa49% higher	2GPa
Speed of sound	1,336m/s37% faster	973m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Plastic ABS	Plastic HDPE
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K5	base material0.4–0.49W/m·K4
Thermal expansion	base material80–110µm/m·K5	base material120µm/m·K4
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth26% less	600µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	base material2,250J/kg·K4
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.208mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	21.2W/m	56.9W/m2.68x more resistant
Glass transition	101°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	HDT 0.455 MPa86.6°C1	not sourced

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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Sources5 documents: UltiMaker, LyondellBasell, Covestro, INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, INEOS Styrolution

Plastic ABS: Ultimaker ABS, 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 v5.00, April 20, 2022.
Plastic HDPE: LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values

1
Ultimaker ABS Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic ABS · Yield strength: typicalPlastic ABS · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic ABS · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic ABS · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic ABS · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic ABS · Density: typicalPlastic ABS · Glass transition: typicalPlastic ABS · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
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
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic ABS · Poisson's ratio: base material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
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)
5
Terluran GP-22 (ABS) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionPlastic ABS · Thermal conductivity: base material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typicalPlastic ABS · Thermal expansion: base material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range

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.

Plastic ABS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic ABS stronger than Plastic HDPE?

Plastic ABS is stronger: its yield strength is 38.1 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (1.59x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic HDPE?

Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 1,100 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic HDPE?

Plastic ABS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.96 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Plastic ABS deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic HDPE?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS 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	Plastic ABS	Plastic HDPE
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	1.88x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	28% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	12% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	37% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	18% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	9% 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 or Plastic HDPE?

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

Which expands less with temperature?

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