Plastic UHMWPE vs. SLA Resin Elastic 50A

Compare Plastic UHMWPE vs. SLA Resin Elastic 50A strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic UHMWPEBulk polymer (molded or machined)

SLA Resin Elastic 50A3D printed (SLA resin)

Mechanical	Plastic UHMWPE	SLA Resin Elastic 50A
Yield strength	20MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	43MPa1	3.4MPa2
Elongation at break	465%12.91x more ductile	160%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	0.66GPa1	not sourced
Density	930kg/m³1	1,010kg/m³2
Strength to weight	21.5kN·m/kg6.39x higher	3.37kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	0.71MN·m/kg	not sourced
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	842m/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 UHMWPE	SLA Resin Elastic 50A
Thermal conductivity	0.4W/m·K3	not sourced
Thermal expansion	200µm/m·K3	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	1,000µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	DSC 10 K/min130–138°C1	not sourced
Glass transition	not sourced	DMA-34.5°C2
Max service temperature	80°C1	not sourced

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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Sources3 documents: Celanese, Formlabs

Plastic UHMWPE: Celanese GUR 4120 (avg. molecular weight 4.7x10^6 g/mol), typical values on compression-molded specimens; CTE and thermal conductivity from Celanese's generic UHMWPE guide (grade not named)
SLA Resin Elastic 50A: Formlabs Elastic 50A Resin V2 (FLELCL02), TDS Rev. 01 24.01.2024; parts printed on Form 3, 100 µm, Elastic 50A V2 settings and post-processing; tensile on Die C specimens cut from printed sheets after 3+ h at 23 °C.

1
GUR UHMW-PE Overview (GUR-015)CelanesePlastic UHMWPE · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/minPlastic UHMWPE · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/minPlastic UHMWPE · Elongation at break: typical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527Plastic UHMWPE · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/minPlastic UHMWPE · Density: typicalPlastic UHMWPE · Melting point: DSC 10 K/minPlastic UHMWPE · Max service temperature: recommended max constant operating temperature
2
Elastic 50A Resin V2 Technical Data Sheet (2024)Formlabsarchived copySLA Resin Elastic 50A · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalSLA Resin Elastic 50A · Elongation at break: typicalSLA Resin Elastic 50A · Density: typicalSLA Resin Elastic 50A · Glass transition: DMA
3
GUR UHMW-PE Polymer Guide (GUR-003)Celanesearchived copyPlastic UHMWPE · Thermal conductivity: typical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE)Plastic UHMWPE · Thermal expansion: typical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE)

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 Elastic 50A is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic UHMWPE stronger than SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

Plastic UHMWPE is stronger: its yield strength is 20 MPa against tensile strength 3.4 MPa for SLA Resin Elastic 50A (5.88x).

Which is lighter, Plastic UHMWPE or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,010 kg/m³ for SLA Resin Elastic 50A.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic UHMWPE or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

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

Part that must be	Plastic UHMWPE	SLA Resin Elastic 50A
Strong rod or tie	lighter	6.39x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	3.54x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	2.63x 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 UHMWPE or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

Plastic UHMWPE stretches further before it breaks: 465% elongation at break against 160% for SLA Resin Elastic 50A.