Automated comparison · 0% overlap

ABS vs PP (Polypropylene): 0% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.

ABS vs PP (Polypropylene)

Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.

Overview

ABS

Polymerscommodity_plastics

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene — the most widely used amorphous engineering/commodity thermoplastic. Excellent balance of toughness, rigidity, and processability. Good surface finish and paintability. Not UV-stable without additives. Trade names include Novodur (INEOS Styrolution), Terluran (INEOS), Cycolac (SABIC). Used for automotive interior trim, appliance housings (vacuum cleaners, monitors), LEGO bricks, 3D printing filament, and pipe fittings.

PP (Polypropylene)

PolymersCommodity

Polypropylene is the most produced plastic globally by volume. Semi-crystalline thermoplastic with excellent chemical resistance, low density (0.90–0.91 g/cm³ — lightest engineering plastic, floats in water), good fatigue resistance (living hinges) and low cost. Available as homopolymer (higher stiffness) and copolymer (better impact). Trade names: Moplen (LyondellBasell), Sabic PP (SABIC), Borealis PP. Used for packaging, automotive bumpers/interiors, medical devices, piping, hinges, containers, textiles (nonwoven) and household goods.

	ABS	PP (Polypropylene)
Material Number	—	—
Category	Polymers	Polymers
Standard	ISO 10350	ISO 1873

Mechanical properties

Property	ABS	PP (Polypropylene)	Unit
tensile_strength	38–50	—	MPa
yield_strength	40–48	—	MPa
elongation	10–30	—	%

e_modulus	2–2.6	—	GPa
density	1.04–1.07	—	g/cm3
glass_transition_temp	100–110	—	°C
water_absorption_24h	0.2–0.4	—	%
Tensile Strength	40–50	31–37	MPa
Tensile Modulus	2100–2600	1300–1800	MPa
Elongation at Break	10–50	100–600	%
Charpy Impact (notched)	15–25	—	kJ/m²
Density	1.04–1.07	0.9–0.91	g/cm³
HDT/B (0.45 MPa)	90–105	—	°C
Vicat Softening Temp	96–110	—	°C
Water Absorption (24h)	0.2–0.4	0.01–0.03	%
Charpy Impact (notched, 23°C)	—	5–15	kJ/m²
Charpy Impact (notched, -20°C)	—	2–5	kJ/m²
Melting Point	—	160–170	°C
HDT/A (1.8 MPa)	—	50–65	°C

Compatibility Assessment

ABS and PP (Polypropylene) have significantly different compositions (0% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.

Automated assessment based on composition analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ABS the same as PP (Polypropylene)?

ABS and PP (Polypropylene) have a 0% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.

Can I replace ABS with PP (Polypropylene)?

Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (0% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.

What is the difference between ABS and PP (Polypropylene)?

The main differences are in the following elements: overall alloying content. ABS is a Polymers grade, while PP (Polypropylene) is a Polymers grade.

Related Comparisons

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View full data for each material:

ABS details PP (Polypropylene) details

Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.

All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.