Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Plastic TPU Compare Plastic ABS vs. Plastic TPU strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Magnesium AZ91D Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall PCB Laminate FR-4 PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Solder SAC305 Plastic ABS 3D printed (FDM) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Magnesium AZ91D Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall PCB Laminate FR-4 PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Solder SAC305 Plastic TPU 3D printed (FDM) Mechanical Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Yield strength 38.1 MPa not given (tensile used) Ultimate tensile strength 38.1 MPa 23.7 MPa Flexural strength 61.1 MPa 14.9x stronger in bending 4.1 MPa Elongation at break 4.6 % not sourced Young's modulus (stiffness) 1.96 GPa 29.3x stiffer 0.067 GPa Density 1,100 kg/m³ 1,220 kg/m³ Strength to weight 34.6 kN·m/kg 1.78x higher 19.4 kN·m/kg Stiffness to weight 1.78 MN·m/kg 32.5x higher 0.0549 MN·m/kg Poisson's ratio base material 0.39 not sourced Shear modulus 0.706 GPa not sourced Bulk modulus 2.97 GPa not sourced Speed of sound 1,336 m/s 5.7x faster 234 m/s
1k 10k 0.1 1 10 100 Density (kg/m³) Young's modulus (GPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic Nylon Wood Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight 1k 10k 10 100 1k Density (kg/m³) Yield strength (MPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic Nylon Rubber Wood Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Brick PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
Thermal Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Thermal conductivity base material 0.17 W/m·K not sourced Thermal expansion base material 80–110 µm/m·K not sourced 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing 475 µm growth not sourced Specific heat not sourced not sourced Heats up and cools (diffusivity) not sourced not sourced Thermal shock resistance 21.2 W/m not sourced Melting point not sourced 217 °C Glass transition 101 °C not sourced Max service temperature HDT 0.455 MPa 86.6 °C 36.3 °C hotter HDT 0.455 MPa 50.3 °C
1k 10k 0.1 1 10 100 Density (kg/m³) Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic Nylon Rubber Wood Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Plastic ABS Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight 0.1 1 10 100 10 100 Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) Thermal expansion (µm/m·K) Plastic PETG Plastic Nylon Wood Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Copper C10100 Copper C12200 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum 3003-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Plastic ABS Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Sources 4 documents: UltiMaker, Covestro, 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 TPU Ultimaker TPU 95A, 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 (file v5.00), April 29, 2022. 1 Ultimaker ABS Technical Data Sheet, v5.00 UltiMaker archived copy Plastic 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 Ultimaker TPU 95A Technical Data Sheet, v5.00 UltiMaker archived copy Plastic TPU · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, stress at breakPlastic TPU · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic TPU · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic TPU · Density: typicalPlastic TPU · Melting point: typicalPlastic TPU · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)3 Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design Guide Covestro archived copy Plastic ABS · Poisson's ratio: base material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)4 Terluran GP-22 (ABS) Product Data Sheet INEOS Styrolution Plastic 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 and Plastic TPU are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions Mechanical Is Plastic ABS stronger than Plastic TPU? Plastic ABS is stronger: its yield strength is 38.1 MPa against tensile strength 23.7 MPa for Plastic TPU (1.61x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Plastic TPU? Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,220 kg/m³ for Plastic TPU.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Plastic TPU? Plastic ABS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.96 GPa against 0.067 GPa for Plastic TPU, so the same part in Plastic ABS deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Plastic TPU? 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 TPU Stiff rod or tie (tension) lighter 32.5x heavier Stiff beam (bending) lighter 6x heavier Stiff panel or plate lighter 3.42x heavier Strong rod or tie lighter 1.78x heavier Strong beam lighter 1.52x heavier Strong panel or plate lighter 41% 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 handles higher temperatures, Plastic ABS or Plastic TPU? Plastic ABS does: 86.6 °C against 50.3 °C for Plastic TPU, both HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens).