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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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
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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.
Plastic ABS and Plastic PLA are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Plastic ABS stronger than Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is stronger: its yield strength is 52.5 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (38%).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic PLA?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,240 kg/m³ for Plastic PLA.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.25 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Plastic PLA deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic PLA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PLA 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 PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
47% heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
14% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
5% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
22% heavier
lighter
Strong beam
10% heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
4% 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 PLA?
Plastic PLA stretches further before it breaks: 7.8% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.
Thermal
Which handles higher temperatures, Plastic ABS or Plastic PLA?
Plastic ABS does: 86.6 °C against 58.8 °C for Plastic PLA, both HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens).
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or Plastic PLA?
Plastic ABS conducts heat better: 0.17 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.