Plastic ABS vs. Rubber

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

RubberBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Plastic ABS	Rubber
Yield strength	38.1MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	38.1MPa11.66x stronger	23MPa2
Flexural strength	61.1MPa1	not sourced
Elongation at break	4.6%1	830%2180x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	1.96GPa1	not sourced
Density	1,100kg/m³1	960kg/m³215% lighter
Strength to weight	34.6kN·m/kg45% higher	24kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	1.78MN·m/kg	not sourced
Poisson's ratio	base material0.393	government0.54
Shear modulus	0.706GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	2.97GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,336m/s	not sourced

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Plastic ABS	Rubber
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K513% more heat through a fin	0.151W/m·K6
Thermal expansion	base material80–110µm/m·K5	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	not sourced	government1,881J/kg·K4
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.0836mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	21.2W/m	not sourced
Glass transition	101°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	HDT 0.455 MPa86.6°C1	70°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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Sources6 documents: UltiMaker, Weir Minerals, Covestro, National Institute of Standards and Technology, INEOS Styrolution, Defense Technical Information Center

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.
Rubber: Weir Minerals Linatex Premium rubber (95 % natural rubber), typical physical properties, spec sheet WMD0118/202305

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
Linatex Premium Rubber Spec Sheet (WMD0118, 2023)Weir MineralsRubber · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalRubber · Elongation at break: typicalRubber · Density: typical (specific gravity)Rubber · Max service temperature: continuous use operating range
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
Compressibility of Natural Rubber at Pressures Below 500 kg/cm², J. Res. NBS 68A (1964)National Institute of Standards and Technologyarchived copyRubber · Poisson's ratio: government (NBS J. Res. 68A, 1964): computed by NBS for peroxide-cured gum NR vulcanizate, 25 °C, infinitesimal deformation (0.49 in the solver: the linear element locks as the ratio nears 0.5 (nearly incompressible).)Rubber · Specific heat: government (NBS J. Res. 68A, Table 7; values observed for unvulcanized NR by Bekkedahl and Matheson), 25 °C
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
6
Thermal Conductivity of Soft Vulcanized Natural Rubber: Selected Values (AD 643325)Defense Technical Information Centerarchived copyRubber · Thermal conductivity: government selected value (US Army Natick Laboratories TR 66-49-PR, 1966), soft vulcanized natural rubber, 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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic ABS stronger than Rubber?

Plastic ABS is stronger: its yield strength is 38.1 MPa against tensile strength 23 MPa for Rubber (1.66x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Rubber?

Rubber is lighter: 960 kg/m³ against 1,100 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS.

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

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Plastic ABS	Rubber
Strong rod or tie	lighter	45% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	22% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	12% 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).

Which is more ductile, Plastic ABS or Rubber?

Rubber stretches further before it breaks: 830% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or Rubber?

Plastic ABS conducts heat better: 0.17 W/m·K against 0.151 W/m·K for Rubber.