Engineering ToolBox - Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications!

Polymers - Physical Properties

Densities, tensile strength, elongation, Youngs modulus and Brinell hardness.

Physical properties of some common plastic materials are indicated below.

Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics can be softened as often as they are reheated and are not so rigid as thermosetting plastics but tend to be rougher.

Polymers - Physical Properties
PolymerDensity
- ρ -
(kg/m3)
Tensile Strength
- σ -
(MPa)
Elongation
(%)
Young's Modulus
- E -
(GPa)
Brinell Hardness Number
ABS
Acrylic (metacrylate) 1190 74 6 3.0 34
Cellulose Acetate 1300 40 10 - 60 1.4 12
Cellulose Nitrate 1350 48 40 1.4 10
Nylon 1160 60 90 2.4 10
Polyethylene 950 20 - 30 20 - 100 0.7 2
Polycarbonate
Polyethermide
Polyethylene
Polyimide
Polypropylene 900 27 200 - 700 1.3 10
Polystyrene 1050 48 3 3.4 25
PTFE (fluoropolymer) 2100 13 100 0.3
PVC 1330 48 200 3.4 20

Termosets (Thermosetting Plastics)

Thermosetting plastics undergo a chemical change during moulding an can never again be softened by reheating. The chemical change in the moulding process is triggered by temperature and pressure and is called curing. 

Thermosetting plastics are harder and more brittle than thermoplastic materials.

Polymers - Physical Properties
PolymerDensity
- ρ -
(kg/m3)
Tensile Strength
- σ -
(MPa)
Elongation
(%)
Young's Modulus
- E -
(GPa)
Brinell Hardness Number
Acetals, glass filled 1600 58 - 75 2 - 7 7 27
Allyl
Epoxy resin, glass filled 1600 - 2000 68 - 200 4 20 38
Melamine formaldehyde, fabric filled 1800 - 2000 60 - 90 7 38
Phenol formaldehyde, mica filled (phenolic) 1600 - 1900 38 - 50 0.5 17 - 35 36
Polyurethane
Silicone
Urea formaldehyde, cellulose filled 1500 38 - 90 1 7 - 10 51
  • 1 MPa = 0.1 GPa = 1 N/mm2
  • 1 N/m2 = 1 Pa = 10-6 N/mm2 = 1.4504x10-4 psi 

Elastomers

Elastomers are substances such as natural rubber and polymers which have material properties which resemble rubber.

  • Butyl
  • Chloroprene, neoprene
  • Ethylene–propylene
  • Fluorinated copolymers
  • Isoprene
  • Natural rubber
  • Nitrile, Buna N
  • Polysulfide
  • Polyurethane
  • PVC
  • Silicone copolymers

Related Topics

  • Material Properties

    Properties of gases, fluids and solids. Densities, specific heats, viscosities and more.

Related Documents

Search

Search is the most efficient way to navigate the Engineering ToolBox.

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - Online 3D modeling!

3D Engineering ToolBox Extension to SketchUp - add parametric components to your SketchUp model

Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and more - to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - enabled for use with older versions of the amazing SketchUp Make and the newer "up to date" SketchUp Pro . Add the Engineering ToolBox extension to your SketchUp Make/Pro from the Extension Warehouse !

Translate this Page

Translate this page to Your Own Language .

About the Engineering ToolBox!

Privacy Policy

We don't collect information from our users. More about

We use a third-party to provide monetization technologies for our site. You can review their privacy and cookie policy here.

You can change your privacy settings by clicking the following button: .

Citation

This page can be cited as

  • The Engineering ToolBox (2008). Polymers - Physical Properties. [online] Available at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/polymer-properties-d_1222.html [Accessed Day Month Year].

Modify the access date according your visit.

3D Engineering ToolBox - draw and model technical applications! 2D Engineering ToolBox - create and share online diagram drawing templates! Engineering ToolBox Apps - mobile online and offline engineering applications!

Unit Converter


















































11.25.10

.