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Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Plastic TPU

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

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
Plastic TPU3D printed (FDM)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourcednot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced23.7MPasourcetypical, stress at break
Flexural strength310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)4.1MPasourcetypical
Elongation at breaknot sourcednot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)0.067GPasourcetypical
Density3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)1,220kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced19.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight94.1MN·m/kg1,714x higher0.0549MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)not sourced
Shear modulus129GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus205GPanot sourced
Speed of sound9,701m/s234m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)not sourced
Thermal expansion4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing23µm growthnot sourced
Specific heat710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)62.1mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Melting pointnot sourced217°Csourcetypical
Max service temperaturenot sourced50.3°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values forKYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03Ultimaker 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

Which is lighter, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic TPU?

Plastic TPU is lighter: 1,220 kg/m³ against 3,400 kg/m³ for Ceramic Aluminum Nitride.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Plastic TPU?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 0.067 GPa for Plastic TPU, 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 TPU?

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 TPU
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter1,714x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter24.8x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter6.04x 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).

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic 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 PolypropylenePlastic 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 Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Aluminum NitridePlastic TPU
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic 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 PolypropylenePlastic 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-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic TPU
Strength against density

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