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Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Plastic PMMA

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Plastic PMMA strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
Plastic PMMABulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourcednot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C
Compressive strengthnot sourced110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical
Flexural strength310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)115MPasourcetypical
Elongation at breaknot sourced5.5%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term
Density3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)1,190kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced67.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight94.1MN·m/kg33.9x higher2.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)0.37sourcetypical
Shear modulus129GPa107x stiffer in shear1.2GPa
Bulk modulus205GPa4.23GPa
Speed of sound9,701m/s1,665m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing23µm growth15.2x less350µm growth
Specific heat710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)62.1mm²/s572x faster0.109mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced41.5W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourced80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature
Values forKYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1)

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

Which is lighter, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic PMMA?

Plastic PMMA is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 3,400 kg/m³ for Ceramic Aluminum Nitride.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic PMMA?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 3.3 GPa for Plastic PMMA, so the same part in Ceramic Aluminum Nitride deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic PMMA?

For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beCeramic Aluminum NitridePlastic PMMA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter33.9x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter3.45x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter1.61x heavier

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 Aluminum Nitride or Plastic PMMA?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 70 µm/m·K for Plastic PMMA.

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 PolypropyleneFDM 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 Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Aluminum NitridePlastic PMMA
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 PolypropyleneFDM 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-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PMMA
Strength against density

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