Materials / Compare
Brass C360 vs. Plastic HDPE
Compare Brass C360 vs. Plastic HDPE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 310MPasourcetypical, 0.5% extension under load | 24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 400MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 25%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 96.5GPasourcetypical, temper-independent | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 |
| Density | 8,498kg/m³sourcenominal | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 |
| Strength to weight | 36.5kN·m/kg44% higher | 25.3kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 11.4MN·m/kg12x higher | 0.947MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.34sourcebase material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature | 0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Shear modulus | 36GPa114x stiffer in shear | 0.316GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 101GPa | 2GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,370m/s | 973m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 116W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 20.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 103µm growth5.85x less | 600µm growth |
| Specific heat | 377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 36.2mm²/s174x faster | 0.208mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 11,997W/m211x more resistant | 56.9W/m |
| Melting point | 888–899°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | not sourced |
| Values for | C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Brass C360 stronger than Plastic HDPE?
Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (12.9x).
Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.
Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Plastic HDPE?
Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Plastic HDPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C360 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie; Plastic HDPE is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Brass C360 | Plastic HDPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 12x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 16% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | 1.88x heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 44% heavier |
| Strong beam | 1.62x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 2.49x heavier | lighter |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, Brass C360 or Plastic HDPE?
Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 0.445 W/m·K for Plastic HDPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.