Thermoplastic comparison
ABS vs UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene)
Every value below is a typical room-temperature figure with its source, test method and conditions — the same dataset that drives the calculators.
| Property | ABS | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.05 g/cm³ | 0.94 g/cm³ | ABS — 12% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 2.3 GPa | 0.8 GPa | ABS — 2.9× higher |
| Tensile strength | 44 MPa | 49 MPa | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) — 11% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 105 °C | -120 °C | ABS — 225 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- CAMPUS plastics database — typical grade datasheet values (campusplastics.com)
- MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values
- 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.