Comparison
ABS Commodity vs PLA
A side-by-side comparison of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Commodity Grades and Polylactic Acid.
Physical
Density
1.04-1.08 g/cm³
1.24 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
0.2-0.6 %
0.5 %
Transparency
Opaque
Semi-transparent
Shrinkage
0.4-0.7 %
0.3 – 0.5 %
Mechanical
Young's Modulus
2.0-2.5 GPa
3.5 GPa
Tensile Strength
40-50 MPa
50 – 65 MPa
Elongation at Break
5-20 %
6 %
Impact Strength (Izod)
150-250 J/m
16 J/m
Flexural Strength
—
80 MPa
Thermal
Glass Transition Temperature
90-105 °C
60 °C
Melting Point
N/A (amorphous)
150 – 160 °C
Continuous Service Temperature
70-80 °C
45 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
80-95 °C
55 °C
Electrical
Dielectric Constant
2.8-3.2
3.0
Volume Resistivity
10¹¹-10¹³ Ω⋅cm
10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Dielectric Strength
15-25 kV/mm
—
Chemical resistance
Acids
Good resistance
Fair
Bases
Good resistance
Poor
Solvents
Attacked by aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, ketones, esters
—
UV Resistance
Poor (requires stabilization)
Poor
Alcohols
—
Fair
Hydrolysis
—
Poor
Sustainability
Recyclability
Recyclable
Industrially compostable
Recycling Code
7 (Other)
7
Carbon Footprint
Moderate to High
~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg
Bio-based Content
—
100 %