Brick vs. FDM Polycarbonate

Compare Brick vs. FDM Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side

Mechanical
Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	53.3MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	5.1MPasourcemodulus of rupture (no direct tensile value)	53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Compressive strength	77.9MPasourcemean unit compressive strength, solid extruded brick (survey mean; SD 30.8 MPa)	not sourced
Flexural strength	not sourced	89.4MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	not sourced	9.2%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	not sourced	2.39GPasourcetypical
Density	2,082kg/m³sourceface brick density row used for k (BIA notes most fired clay brick 120-130 lb/ft3)	1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange
Strength to weight	2.45kN·m/kg	44.8kN·m/kg18.3x higher
Stiffness to weight	not sourced	2.01MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	not sourced	0.867GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	3.33GPa
Speed of sound	not sourced	1,418m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.92–1.12W/m·Ksourcerange for 130 lb/ft3 face brick (ASHRAE 2013 via BIA)	0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C
Thermal expansion	7.2µm/m·KsourceTMS Code average coefficient, clay/shale unit masonry	65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	36µm growth9.03x less	325µm growth
Specific heat	837J/kg·Ksourcevalue used in BIA heat-capacity sample calculation	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.585mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	42.5W/m
Glass transition	not sourced	108°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values for	Solid extruded clay/shale brick units (BIA 1993 manufacturer survey, TN 3A 2024); face brick of 130 lb/ft3 for thermal properties (BIA TN 4, from ASHRAE 2013); CTE is the TMS Code value for clay/shale masonry	Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.

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.

FDM Polycarbonate is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Brick stronger than FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against tensile strength 5.1 MPa for Brick (10.5x).

Which is lighter, Brick or FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 2,082 kg/m³ for Brick.

Which is lighter for the same job, Brick or FDM Polycarbonate?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Brick	FDM Polycarbonate
Strong rod or tie	18.3x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	8.36x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	5.66x 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, Brick or FDM Polycarbonate?

Brick conducts heat better: 1.02 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Brick expands less: 7.2 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density