Materials / Compare
Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Plastic PEEK
Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Plastic PEEK strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | 98MPasourcetypical, tensile yield |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4) | not sourced |
| Compressive strength | 2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773) | 125MPasourcetypical, 23 C |
| Flexural strength | 358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417) | 165MPasourcetypical, flexural stress at yield, 23 C |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 25%sourcetypical, at break |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 4GPasourcetypical (nominal) |
| Density | 3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20) | 1,300kg/m³sourcetypical (crystalline) |
| Strength to weight | 59.4kN·m/kg | 75.4kN·m/kg27% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 81.5MN·m/kg26.5x higher | 3.08MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 0.38sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 125GPa86.4x stiffer in shear | 1.45GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 174GPa | 5.56GPa |
| Speed of sound | 9,025m/s | 1,754m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408) | 0.29W/m·Ksourcetypical, average, 23 C |
| Thermal expansion | 8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372) | 55µm/m·Ksourceaverage of flow/cross-flow, below Tg (<143 C) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41µm growth6.71x less | 275µm growth |
| Specific heat | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269) | 2,200J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 23 °C, DSC (Victrex PEEK 450G TDS, revision Jul 2012) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 7.55mm²/s74.4x faster | 0.101mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 1,736W/m21.7x more resistant | 80.1W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 343°Csourcetypical, DSC |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 143°Csourceonset (midpoint 150 C) |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 240°CsourceUL 746B RTI, mechanical strength (continuous use index) |
| 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. | Victrex PEEK 450G (unreinforced, injection moulded), Victrex TDS rev. March 2026; Poisson from Victrex fluid-management flyer (2020-07) |
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 Ceramic Alumina 96% stronger than Plastic PEEK?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is stronger: its tensile strength is 221 MPa against yield strength 98 MPa for Plastic PEEK (2.26x).
Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Plastic PEEK?
Plastic PEEK is lighter: 1,300 kg/m³ against 3,720 kg/m³ for Ceramic Alumina 96%.
Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Plastic PEEK?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 4 GPa for Plastic PEEK, 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 Plastic PEEK?
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; Plastic PEEK is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Ceramic Alumina 96% | Plastic PEEK |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 26.5x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 3.04x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 48% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 27% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.66x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.91x 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 Plastic PEEK?
Ceramic Alumina 96% conducts heat better: 24.7 W/m·K against 0.29 W/m·K for Plastic PEEK.
Which expands less with temperature?
Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 55 µm/m·K for Plastic PEEK.