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Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Plastic Polypropylene

Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Plastic Polypropylene strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Alumina 96%Sintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
Plastic PolypropyleneBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527
Ultimate tensile strength221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4)not sourced
Compressive strength2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773)not sourced
Flexural strength358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417)not sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourcednot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527
Density3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20)900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1
Strength to weight59.4kN·m/kg1.62x higher36.7kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight81.5MN·m/kg50.6x higher1.61MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Shear modulus125GPa245x stiffer in shear0.511GPa
Bulk modulus174GPa3.02GPa
Speed of sound9,025m/s1,269m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408)0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Thermal expansion8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372)80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing41µm growth11x less450µm growth
Specific heat880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269)not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)7.55mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance1,736W/m60.7x more resistant28.6W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourced90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed
Values forCoorsTek 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.LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), 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 Ceramic Alumina 96% stronger than Plastic Polypropylene?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stronger: its tensile strength is 221 MPa against yield strength 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (6.7x).

Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Plastic Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 3,720 kg/m³ for Ceramic Alumina 96%.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Plastic Polypropylene?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, 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 Polypropylene?

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; Plastic Polypropylene is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beCeramic Alumina 96%Plastic Polypropylene
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter50.6x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter3.5x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter44% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.62x heavier
Strong beam16% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1.6x heavierlighter

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 Polypropylene?

Ceramic Alumina 96% conducts heat better: 24.7 W/m·K against 0.195 W/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Alumina 96%Plastic Polypropylene
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Alumina 96%Plastic Polypropylene
Strength against density

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