FabDigit

PBSA vs PLLA vs PDLA vs PDLLA

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 polymer grades.

PBSA vs PLLA and 2 more: properties

PBSAPLLAPDLAPDLLA

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

0.22 GPa0.03 Msi
3.5 GPa0.51 Msi
3.3 GPa0.48 Msi
3 GPa0.44 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.44
0.36
0.36
0.36

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

22 MPa3.2 ksi
62 MPa9 ksi
60 MPa8.7 ksi
50 MPa7.3 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

13 MPa1.9 ksi
60 MPa8.7 ksi
58 MPa8.4 ksi
48 MPa7 ksi

Elongation at Break

700%
4%
4%
5%

Flexural Strength

10 MPa1.5 ksi
100 MPa14.5 ksi
90 MPa13.1 ksi
80 MPa11.6 ksi

Flexural Modulus

0.24 GPa0.03 Msi
3.7 GPa0.54 Msi
3.6 GPa0.52 Msi
3.3 GPa0.48 Msi

Izod Impact, Notched

600 J/m11.2 ft·lbf/in
25 J/m0.47 ft·lbf/in
20 J/m0.37 ft·lbf/in
20 J/m0.37 ft·lbf/in

Hardness, Shore A

93 Shore A

Hardness, Shore D

45 Shore D
83 Shore D
83 Shore D
82 Shore D

Hardness, Rockwell R

70 HRR
85 HRR
105 HRR
95 HRR

Tear Strength

90 kN/m514 lbf/in

Shear Modulus

1.3 GPa0.19 Msi
1.2 GPa0.17 Msi

Bulk Modulus

4 GPa0.59 Msi
4 GPa0.57 Msi

Compressive Strength

92 MPa13.3 ksi
80 MPa11.6 ksi
90 MPa13.1 ksi

Compressive Modulus

3.3 GPa0.48 Msi
3 GPa0.44 Msi
2.8 GPa0.41 Msi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

2.2 MPa·√m2 ksi·√in
2.5 MPa·√m2.3 ksi·√in
1.6 MPa·√m1.5 ksi·√in

Shear Strength

48 MPa7 ksi
40 MPa5.8 ksi

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

1.24 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
1.26 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³
1.25 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³
1.25 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³

Melting Temperature (Tm)

90°C194 °F
175°C347 °F
178°C352 °F

Glass Transition (Tg)

-43°C-45 °F
61°C142 °F
58°C136 °F
55°C131 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

0.4%
0.4%
0.4%
0.5%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

1.2%
1%
1%
1.2%

Refractive Index

1.47
1.46
1.455
1.46

Light Transmission

85%
88%
90%
90%

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.16 W/m·K0.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.16 W/m·K0.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.15 W/m·K0.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

1,850 J/kg·K0.44 BTU/lb·°F
1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F
1,590 J/kg·K0.38 BTU/lb·°F
1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

180 µm/m·K100 µin/in·°F
75 µm/m·K41.7 µin/in·°F
80 µm/m·K44.4 µin/in·°F
85 µm/m·K47.2 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

55°C131 °F
55°C131 °F
50°C122 °F
45°C113 °F

Min Service Temperature

-40°C-40 °F
-20°C-4 °F
-20°C-4 °F
-20°C-4 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

60°C140 °F
65°C149 °F
62°C144 °F
55°C131 °F

Vicat Softening Point (B50)

68°C154 °F
60°C140 °F
59°C138 °F
57°C135 °F

Limiting Oxygen Index

21%
20%
20%
22%

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

70°C158 °F
80°C176 °F
70°C158 °F
60°C140 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

55°C131 °F
53°C127 °F
50°C122 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Resistivity

1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in
1×10¹⁴ Ω·m3.94×10²¹ µΩ·in
1×10¹⁴ Ω·m3.94×10²¹ µΩ·in
1×10¹⁴ Ω·m3.94×10²¹ µΩ·in

Dielectric Strength

20 kV/mm508 V/mil
18 kV/mm457 V/mil
20 kV/mm508 V/mil
17 kV/mm432 V/mil

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)

3.3
3
3
3

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁶ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁶ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁶ Ω·cm

Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)

0.015
0.02
0.013

Surface Resistivity

1×10¹⁶ Ω
1×10¹⁶ Ω

Comparative Tracking Index (CTI)

600 V

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

40 / 100
55 / 100
45 / 100
30 / 100

UV / Weathering Resistance

30 / 100
45 / 100
35 / 100
40 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

25 / 100
60 / 100
60 / 100
60 / 100

Weldability

88 / 100
75 / 100
60 / 100
55 / 100

Formability (cold)

85 / 100
55 / 100
40 / 100
45 / 100

Polishability

35 / 100
70 / 100
70 / 100
70 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

1.4%
0.4%
0.4%
0.3%

Melt Flow Rate

5 g/10 min
8 g/10 min
15 g/10 min
10 g/10 min

Processing Melt Temperature (typ.)

160°C320 °F
205°C401 °F
210°C410 °F
180°C356 °F

Mold Temperature (typ.)

25°C77 °F
30°C86 °F
30°C86 °F
30°C86 °F

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

55 MJ/kg23,646 BTU/lb
50 MJ/kg21,496 BTU/lb
55 MJ/kg23,646 BTU/lb
55 MJ/kg23,646 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

2.6 kg CO₂/kg
1.3 kg CO₂/kg
2.6 kg CO₂/kg
2.2 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

400 L/kg47.9 gal/lb

Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

18 kN·m/kg
49 kN·m/kg
48 kN·m/kg
40 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

0.2 MN·m/kg
2.8 MN·m/kg
2.6 MN·m/kg
2.4 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

384 kJ/m³
514 kJ/m³
510 kJ/m³
384 kJ/m³

Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every polymer grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

0.1110100123Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scalePLLAPDLAPDLLAPBSA

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityPBSAPLLAPDLAPDLLA
Default condition
Relative cost$$ Standard$$$ Premium$$$$ High$$$$ High
Min. machined wall
Best machined surface

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in PBSA and PLLA side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.