Materials / Compare
Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Plastic UHMWPE 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) | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4) | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Compressive strength | 2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773) | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417) | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20) | 930kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 59.4kN·m/kg2.76x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 81.5MN·m/kg115x higher | 0.71MN·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 | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408) | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372) | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41µm growth24.4x less | 1,000µm 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/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | not sourced | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature |
| 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. | Celanese GUR 4120 (avg. molecular weight 4.7x10^6 g/mol), typical values on compression-molded specimens; CTE and thermal conductivity from Celanese's generic UHMWPE guide (grade not named) |
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 UHMWPE?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is stronger: its tensile strength is 221 MPa against yield strength 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (11.1x).
Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 3,720 kg/m³ for Ceramic Alumina 96%.
Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Plastic UHMWPE?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, 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 UHMWPE?
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; Plastic UHMWPE is lighter for a strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Ceramic Alumina 96% | Plastic UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 115x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 5.36x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.93x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.76x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 24% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | 20% 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 UHMWPE?
Ceramic Alumina 96% conducts heat better: 24.7 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.