Plastic Polycarbonate vs. SLA Resin Standard

Compare Plastic Polycarbonate vs. SLA Resin Standard strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)

SLA Resin Standard3D printed (SLA resin)

Mechanical	Plastic Polycarbonate	SLA Resin Standard
Yield strength	65MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	65MPa1	60MPa2
Flexural strength	97MPa1	105MPa2
Elongation at break	125%115.6x more ductile	8%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.4GPa1	2.75GPa215% stiffer
Density	1,200kg/m³1	1,210kg/m³3
Strength to weight	54.2kN·m/kg9% higher	49.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	2MN·m/kg	2.27MN·m/kg14% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.384	not sourced
Shear modulus	0.87GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	3.33GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,414m/s	1,508m/s7% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Plastic Polycarbonate	SLA Resin Standard
Thermal conductivity	0.2W/m·K1	0.54W/m·K52.7x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	65µm/m·K11.76x less	mean -30 to 140 °C114µm/m·K5
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	325µm growth1.76x less	571µm growth
Specific heat	1,172J/kg·K6	1,800J/kg·K51.54x higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.142mm²/s	0.248mm²/s1.74x faster
Thermal shock resistance	51.7W/m	not sourced
Glass transition	144°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	UL 746B RTI125°C1	HDT 1.8 MPa59°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: Covestro, Formlabs, Bayer MaterialScience

Plastic Polycarbonate: Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values
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.

1
Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroPlastic Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typical, tensile yieldPlastic Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, stress at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typical, flexural strengthPlastic Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typical, strain at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Density: typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: typical, through-plane, 23 CPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: typical, 23-55 C, parallel and normalPlastic Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typical, DSC 10 C/minPlastic Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: UL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
2
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 Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: typical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
5
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
6
Makrolon 2405 Data Sheet, ASTM valuesBayer MaterialSciencearchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Specific heat: typical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766

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.

SLA Resin Standard is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic Polycarbonate stronger than SLA Resin Standard?

Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against tensile strength 60 MPa for SLA Resin Standard (8%).

Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?

Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 1,210 kg/m³ for SLA Resin Standard.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?

SLA Resin Standard is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.75 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in SLA Resin Standard deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; SLA Resin Standard is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	Plastic Polycarbonate	SLA Resin Standard
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	14% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	6% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	4% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	9% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	6% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	5% 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 Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?

Plastic Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 125% elongation at break against 8% for SLA Resin Standard.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Plastic Polycarbonate or SLA Resin Standard?

SLA Resin Standard conducts heat better: 0.54 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 114 µm/m·K for SLA Resin Standard.