Materials / Compare
Brass C360 vs. Plastic PMMA
Compare Brass C360 vs. Plastic PMMA 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 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 400MPasourcetypical | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 115MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 25%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod | 5.5%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 96.5GPasourcetypical, temper-independent | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term |
| Density | 8,498kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 36.5kN·m/kg | 67.2kN·m/kg1.84x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 11.4MN·m/kg4.09x higher | 2.77MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.34sourcebase material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature | 0.37sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 36GPa29.9x stiffer in shear | 1.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 101GPa | 4.23GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,370m/s | 1,665m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 116W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 20.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 103µm growth3.41x less | 350µm growth |
| Specific heat | 377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 36.2mm²/s334x faster | 0.109mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 11,997W/m289x more resistant | 41.5W/m |
| Melting point | 888–899°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature |
| Values for | C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) |
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 PMMA?
Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against tensile strength 80 MPa for Plastic PMMA (3.88x).
Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.
Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Plastic PMMA?
Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 3.3 GPa for Plastic PMMA, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Plastic PMMA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C360 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic PMMA is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Brass C360 | Plastic PMMA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 4.09x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 32% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 2.32x heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 1.84x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.89x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 3.63x 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 PMMA?
Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 µm/m·K against 70 µm/m·K for Plastic PMMA.