Plastic ABS vs. Plastic Polycarbonate

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

Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Plastic ABS	Plastic Polycarbonate
Yield strength	38.1MPa1	65MPa21.71x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	38.1MPa1	65MPa2
Flexural strength	61.1MPa1	97MPa2
Elongation at break	4.6%1	125%227.2x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	1.96GPa1	2.4GPa222% stiffer
Density	1,100kg/m³1	1,200kg/m³2
Strength to weight	34.6kN·m/kg	54.2kN·m/kg1.56x higher
Stiffness to weight	1.78MN·m/kg	2MN·m/kg12% higher
Poisson's ratio	base material0.393	0.383
Shear modulus	0.706GPa	0.87GPa23% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	2.97GPa	3.33GPa12% higher
Speed of sound	1,336m/s	1,414m/s6% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Plastic ABS	Plastic Polycarbonate
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K4	0.2W/m·K218% more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	base material80–110µm/m·K4	65µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	325µm growth46% less
Specific heat	not sourced	1,172J/kg·K5
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.142mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	21.2W/m	51.7W/m2.44x more resistant
Glass transition	101°C1	144°C243.5 °C higher
Max service temperature	HDT 0.455 MPa86.6°C1	UL 746B RTI125°C2

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, Covestro, INEOS Styrolution, Bayer MaterialScience

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 Polycarbonate: Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical 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
Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroPlastic Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typical, tensile yieldPlastic Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, stress at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typical, flexural strengthPlastic Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typical, strain at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Density: typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: typical, through-plane, 23 CPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: typical, 23-55 C, parallel and normalPlastic Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typical, DSC 10 C/minPlastic Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: UL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
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)Plastic Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: typical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
4
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
5
Makrolon 2405 Data Sheet, ASTM valuesBayer MaterialSciencearchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Specific heat: typical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766

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 Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (1.71x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.4 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Plastic Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.

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

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; Plastic 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	Plastic ABS	Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	12% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	1% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2% heavier
Strong rod or tie	1.56x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	31% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	20% 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 Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 125% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.