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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BASF Ultradur B 4300 G6 (PBT, 30% glass fibre), injection moulding grade; product information sheet 09/2026, typical values for uncoloured product at 23 °C.
Plastic PLA
Ultimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated April 20, 2022.
Ultradur B 4300 G6 Product InformationBASFPlastic PBT GF30 · Ultimate tensile strength: stress at break, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Flexural strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Elongation at break: strain at break, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Density: typicalPlastic PBT GF30 · Thermal conductivity: typical (DIN 52612-1)Plastic PBT GF30 · Thermal expansion: longitudinal (flow), mean 23-55 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Specific heat: typical, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Melting point: DSC (ISO 11357)Plastic PBT GF30 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
3
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 PLA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Plastic PBT GF30 stronger than Plastic PLA?
Plastic PBT GF30 is stronger: its tensile strength is 140 MPa against yield strength 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (2.67x).
Which is lighter, Plastic PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 1,530 kg/m³ for Plastic PBT GF30.
Which is stiffer, Plastic PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PBT GF30 is stiffer: Young's modulus 9.8 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, so the same part in Plastic PBT GF30 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PBT GF30 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 PBT GF30
Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.44x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
41% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
17% heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
2.16x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
1.56x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
32% 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 PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA stretches further before it breaks: 7.8% elongation at break against 3% for Plastic PBT GF30.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Plastic PBT GF30 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PBT GF30 conducts heat better: 0.27 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.