FabDigit

PDLLA vs PLLA vs PDLA vs PHB

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 polymer grades.

PDLLA vs PLLA and 2 more: properties

PDLLAPLLAPDLAPHB

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

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

Poisson's Ratio

0.36
0.36
0.36
0.38

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

50 MPa7.3 ksi
62 MPa9 ksi
60 MPa8.7 ksi
36 MPa5.2 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

48 MPa7 ksi
60 MPa8.7 ksi
58 MPa8.4 ksi
35 MPa5.1 ksi

Elongation at Break

5%
4%
4%
5%

Compressive Strength

90 MPa13.1 ksi
92 MPa13.3 ksi
80 MPa11.6 ksi
60 MPa8.7 ksi

Compressive Modulus

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

Flexural Strength

80 MPa11.6 ksi
100 MPa14.5 ksi
90 MPa13.1 ksi
55 MPa8 ksi

Flexural Modulus

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

Shear Strength

40 MPa5.8 ksi
48 MPa7 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

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

Izod Impact, Notched

20 J/m0.37 ft·lbf/in
25 J/m0.47 ft·lbf/in
20 J/m0.37 ft·lbf/in
35 J/m0.66 ft·lbf/in

Hardness, Shore D

82 Shore D
83 Shore D
83 Shore D
78 Shore D

Hardness, Rockwell R

95 HRR
85 HRR
105 HRR
105 HRR

Shear Modulus

1.3 GPa0.19 Msi
1.2 GPa0.17 Msi

Bulk Modulus

4 GPa0.59 Msi
4 GPa0.57 Msi

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

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

Glass Transition (Tg)

55°C131 °F
61°C142 °F
58°C136 °F
4°C39 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

0.5%
0.4%
0.4%
0.4%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

1.2%
1%
1%
1%

Refractive Index

1.46
1.46
1.455
1.46

Light Transmission

90%
88%
90%

Melting Temperature (Tm)

175°C347 °F
178°C352 °F
175°C347 °F

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

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

Specific Heat Capacity

1,500 J/kg·K0.36 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)

85 µm/m·K47.2 µin/in·°F
75 µm/m·K41.7 µin/in·°F
80 µm/m·K44.4 µin/in·°F
90 µm/m·K50 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

45°C113 °F
55°C131 °F
50°C122 °F
100°C212 °F

Min Service Temperature

-20°C-4 °F
-20°C-4 °F
-20°C-4 °F
-30°C-22 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

55°C131 °F
65°C149 °F
62°C144 °F
140°C284 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

50°C122 °F
55°C131 °F
53°C127 °F
105°C221 °F

Vicat Softening Point (B50)

57°C135 °F
60°C140 °F
59°C138 °F
155°C311 °F

Limiting Oxygen Index

22%
20%
20%
21%

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

60°C140 °F
80°C176 °F
70°C158 °F
140°C284 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Resistivity

1×10¹⁴ Ω·m3.94×10²¹ µΩ·in
1×10¹⁴ Ω·m3.94×10²¹ µΩ·in
1×10¹⁴ Ω·m3.94×10²¹ µΩ·in
1×10¹³ Ω·m3.94×10²⁰ µΩ·in

Dielectric Strength

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

Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)

0.013
0.015
0.02

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹⁶ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁶ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁶ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁵ Ω·cm

Surface Resistivity

1×10¹⁶ Ω
1×10¹⁶ Ω

Comparative Tracking Index (CTI)

600 V

Same in both: Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) 3

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

30 / 100
55 / 100
45 / 100

UV / Weathering Resistance

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

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

60 / 100
60 / 100
60 / 100
55 / 100

Weldability

55 / 100
75 / 100
60 / 100
50 / 100

Formability (cold)

45 / 100
55 / 100
40 / 100
25 / 100

Polishability

70 / 100
70 / 100
70 / 100
50 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

0.3%
0.4%
0.4%
1.5%

Melt Flow Rate

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

Processing Melt Temperature (typ.)

180°C356 °F
205°C401 °F
210°C410 °F
175°C347 °F

Mold Temperature (typ.)

30°C86 °F
30°C86 °F
30°C86 °F
55°C131 °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
60 MJ/kg25,795 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

2.2 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)

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

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

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

Modulus of Resilience

384 kJ/m³
514 kJ/m³
510 kJ/m³
175 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 scalePLLAPDLAPDLLAPHB

Manufacturing and finishing

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

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in PDLLA 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.