Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser
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.
SLA Resin Standard
Formlabs Clear Resin V5 (FLGPCL05), TDS Rev. 01 March 20, 2024; printed on Form 4 at 100 µm, washed 5 min in >=99% IPA, post-cured 15 min at 60 °C in Form Cure. Orientation not stated.
Clear Resin V5 Technical Data Sheet (2024)Formlabsarchived copySLA Resin Standard · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Flexural strength: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Elongation at break: typicalSLA Resin Standard · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalSLA Resin Standard · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
3
Clear Resin V5 Technical Data Sheet (web edition)FormlabsSLA Resin Standard · Density: typical, post-cured (same for 5 min ambient and 15 min at 60 °C), ASTM D792
4
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)
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 Properties of Selected Formlabs SLA ResinsFormlabsSLA Resin Standard · Thermal conductivity: typical, post-cured, ASTM E1530SLA Resin Standard · Thermal expansion: mean -30 to 140 °C, post-cured (5 min ambient cure), TMA ASTM E831SLA Resin Standard · Specific heat: typical, 25 °C, post-cured (5 min ambient cure), DSC ASTM E1269
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 SLA Resin Standard are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Plastic ABS stronger than SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard is stronger: its tensile strength is 60 MPa against yield strength 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (1.57x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or SLA Resin Standard?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 1,210 kg/m³ for SLA Resin Standard.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.75 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in SLA Resin Standard deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or SLA Resin Standard?
For the same stiffness or strength: SLA Resin Standard 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
SLA Resin Standard
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
27% heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
8% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
2% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
43% heavier
lighter
Strong beam
23% heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
14% 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 SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard stretches further before it breaks: 8% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or SLA Resin Standard?
SLA Resin Standard conducts heat better: 0.54 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 114 µm/m·K for SLA Resin Standard.