Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Plastic TPU

Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Plastic TPU 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)	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4)	23.7MPasourcetypical, stress at break
Compressive strength	2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773)	not sourced
Flexural strength	358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417)	4.1MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	not sourced	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)	0.067GPasourcetypical
Density	3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20)	1,220kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	59.4kN·m/kg3.06x higher	19.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	81.5MN·m/kg1,483x higher	0.0549MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)	not sourced
Shear modulus	125GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	174GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	9,025m/s	234m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408)	not sourced
Thermal expansion	8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372)	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	41µm growth	not sourced
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/m	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	217°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	50.3°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 TPU 95A, 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 29, 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.

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

Questions

Is Ceramic Alumina 96% stronger than Plastic TPU?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stronger: its tensile strength is 221 MPa against 23.7 MPa for Plastic TPU (9.32x).

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

Plastic TPU is lighter: 1,220 kg/m³ against 3,720 kg/m³ for Ceramic Alumina 96%.

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

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 0.067 GPa for Plastic TPU, 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 TPU?

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, strong beam.

Part that must be	Ceramic Alumina 96%	Plastic TPU
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	1,483x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	22.1x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	5.42x heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	3.06x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	45% heavier
Strong panel or plate	about equal	about equal

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).

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density