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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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)
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Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroPlastic Nylon PA6 · Poisson's ratio: base material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
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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 Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (2.36x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,130 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 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 Nylon PA6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
1.74x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
30% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
18% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
2.3x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.73x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
50% 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).
Which is more ductile, Plastic ABS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 stretches further before it breaks: 10% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 conducts heat better: 0.33 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 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.