Thermoplastic comparison
ABS vs PETG (glycol-modified PET)
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
PETG gets most of ABS's toughness without the warping, the enclosure or the fumes, which is why it has displaced ABS for most functional printing. ABS still wins on heat resistance and can be acetone vapour-smoothed to a gloss finish. PETG for an easy functional part; ABS when it must take more heat or be smoothed.
| Property | ABS | PETG (glycol-modified PET) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.05 g/cm³ | 1.3 g/cm³ | PETG (glycol-modified PET) — 24% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 2.3 GPa | 2.2 GPa | ABS — 5% higher |
| Tensile strength | 44 MPa | 53 MPa | PETG (glycol-modified PET) — 20% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 105 °C | 81 °C | ABS — 24 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- CAMPUS plastics database — typical grade datasheet values (campusplastics.com)
- MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values
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.