Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. FDM Polycarbonate

Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. FDM Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Alumina 96%Sintered ceramic (pressed and fired)

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	221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4)	53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Compressive strength	2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773)	not sourced
Flexural strength	358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417)	89.4MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	not sourced	9.2%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)	2.39GPasourcetypical
Density	3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20)	1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange
Strength to weight	59.4kN·m/kg33% higher	44.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	81.5MN·m/kg40.5x higher	2.01MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)	0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	125GPa144x stiffer in shear	0.867GPa
Bulk modulus	174GPa	3.33GPa
Speed of sound	9,025m/s	1,418m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408)	0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C
Thermal expansion	8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372)	65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	41µm growth7.93x less	325µm growth
Specific heat	880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269)	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	7.55mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	1,736W/m40.9x more resistant	42.5W/m
Glass transition	not sourced	108°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values for	CoorsTek AD-96, nominal 96% Al2O3 sintered alumina, typical values; CoorsTek "Ceramic Seal Material Properties" (© 2018, 01899 F). AD-96 is the general 96% grade, not the ADS-96R substrate grade.	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 Ceramic Alumina 96% stronger than FDM Polycarbonate?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stronger: its tensile strength is 221 MPa against yield strength 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (4.15x).

Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 3,720 kg/m³ for Ceramic Alumina 96%.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or FDM Polycarbonate?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in Ceramic Alumina 96% deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Alumina 96% or FDM Polycarbonate?

For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Alumina 96% is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie; FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Ceramic Alumina 96%	FDM Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	40.5x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	3.6x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	1.61x heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	33% heavier
Strong beam	21% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	1.54x 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, Ceramic Alumina 96% or FDM Polycarbonate?

Ceramic Alumina 96% conducts heat better: 24.7 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density