Materials / Compare

Plastic PLA vs. Plastic PPS GF40

Compare Plastic PLA vs. Plastic PPS GF40 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic PLA3D printed (FDM)
Plastic PPS GF40Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
MechanicalPlastic PLAPlastic PPS GF40
Yield strength52.5MPa1not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength52.5MPa1tensile strength195MPa23.71x stronger
Flexural strength96.8MPa1285MPa2
Elongation at break7.8%14.11x more ductilestrain at break1.9%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)3.25GPa114.7GPa24.52x stiffer
Density1,240kg/m³133% lighter1,650kg/m³2
Strength to weight42.3kN·m/kg118kN·m/kg2.79x higher
Stiffness to weight2.62MN·m/kg8.91MN·m/kg3.4x higher
Poisson's rationot sourced0.353
Shear modulusnot sourced5.44GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced16.3GPa
Speed of sound1,619m/s2,985m/s1.84x faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PLAPlastic PPS GF40
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PLAPlastic PPS GF40
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalPlastic PLAPlastic PPS GF40
Thermal conductivitybase material0.13W/m·K40.2W/m·K31.54x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansionnot sourcedparallel12µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swingnot sourced60µm growth
Specific heatbase material1,200J/kg·K4not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.0874mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced144W/m
Melting point152°C1DSC280°C2128 °C higher
Glass transition59.1°C1DSC90°C230.9 °C higher
Max service temperatureHDT 0.455 MPa58.8°C1HDT 1.8 MPa270°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PLAPlastic PPS GF40
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PPS GF40
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: UltiMaker, Celanese, NatureWorks
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.
Plastic PPS GF40
Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).
  1. 1
    Ultimaker PLA Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic PLA · Yield strength: typicalPlastic PLA · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic PLA · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic PLA · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic PLA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic PLA · Density: typicalPlastic PLA · Melting point: typicalPlastic PLA · Glass transition: typicalPlastic PLA · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
  2. 2
    Fortron PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012)CelanesePlastic PPS GF40 · Ultimate tensile strength: tensile strength, 5 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Flexural strength: flexural strength at breakPlastic PPS GF40 · Elongation at break: strain at break, 5 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 1 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Density: typicalPlastic PPS GF40 · Thermal expansion: parallel (flow), mean -50 to 90 °CPlastic PPS GF40 · Melting point: DSC, 10 °C/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Glass transition: DSC, 10 °C/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
  3. 3
    Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050)CelanesePlastic PPS GF40 · Poisson's ratio: glass-reinforced Fortron PPS (class value, not grade-specific)Plastic PPS GF40 · Thermal conductivity: 40% glass-reinforced Fortron, 25 °C (not grade-specific)
  4. 4
    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 PLA stronger than Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stronger: its tensile strength is 195 MPa against yield strength 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (3.71x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PLA or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 1,650 kg/m³ for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which is stiffer, Plastic PLA or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stiffer: Young's modulus 14.7 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, so the same part in Plastic PPS GF40 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PLA or Plastic PPS GF40?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PPS GF40 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 bePlastic PLAPlastic PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)3.4x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.6x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate24% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie2.79x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.8x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate45% heavierlighter

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 PLA or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PLA stretches further before it breaks: 7.8% elongation at break against 1.9% for Plastic PPS GF40.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Plastic PLA or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.

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