Thermoplastic comparison
ABS vs Polycarbonate (PC)
Every value below is a typical room-temperature figure with its source, test method and conditions — the same dataset that drives the calculators.
Which to choose
Polycarbonate is in a different class for impact and heat — it is what machine guards and power-tool housings are made from — while ABS is cheaper, easier to mould and easier to finish. The two are routinely blended as PC/ABS precisely to trade a little of PC's toughness for ABS's processability and cost.
| Property | ABS | Polycarbonate (PC) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.05 g/cm³ | 1.2 g/cm³ | Polycarbonate (PC) — 14% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 2.3 GPa | 2.4 GPa | Polycarbonate (PC) — 4% higher |
| Tensile strength | 44 MPa | 65 MPa | Polycarbonate (PC) — 48% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 105 °C | 147 °C | Polycarbonate (PC) — 42 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- CAMPUS plastics database — typical grade datasheet values (campusplastics.com)
- Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed.
Typical room-temperature values for learning and preliminary design; grades vary widely and a supplier datasheet always overrides a textbook figure. Confirm against the datasheet before design work.