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PLA vs. PS

Both PLA and PS are thermoplastics. There are 14 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (15, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is PLA and the bottom bar is PS.

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa 3.5
1.9 to 2.9
Elongation at Break, % 6.0
1.8 to 40
Flexural Strength, MPa 80
62 to 80
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa 50
32 to 44

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature, °C 60
100
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C 50
70
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K 1800
1250 to 1400
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K 0.13
0.14 to 0.22

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm3 1.3
1.0

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points 1.6
1.0 to 1.5
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points 40
40 to 45
Strength to Weight: Axial, points 11
8.5 to 12
Strength to Weight: Bending, points 24
22 to 26
Thermal Diffusivity, mm2/s 0.058
0.11 to 0.15