Materials / Compare

Concrete vs. FDM Polycarbonate

Compare Concrete vs. FDM Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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ConcreteCast
FDM Polycarbonate3D printed (FDM)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced53.3MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Compressive strength27.6MPasourcespecified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typicalnot sourced
Flexural strengthnot sourced89.4MPasourcetypical
Elongation at breaknot sourced9.2%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced2.39GPasourcetypical
Density2,240–2,400kg/m³sourcerange for normalweight concrete1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange
Strength to weightnot sourced44.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourced2.01MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.15–0.2sourcegeneral range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulusnot sourced0.867GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced3.33GPa
Speed of soundnot sourced1,418m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (comparative value)0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C
Thermal expansion8–12µm/m·Ksourcetypical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing50µm growth6.5x less325µm growth
Specific heat900J/kg·Ksourcetypical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.431mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced42.5W/m
Glass transitionnot sourced108°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature65°Csourcecode long-term temperature limit (ASME Code, concrete containments)105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values forNormal-weight portland cement concrete, strength class f'c = 4000 psi (28 MPa) per NRMCA CIP 35; density NRMCA CIP 36; thermal conductivity USDA FPL Wood Handbook; service temperature ORNL/NRC reviewUltimaker PC, 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 20, 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.

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

Questions

Which is lighter, Concrete or FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 2,320 kg/m³ for Concrete.

Which conducts heat better, Concrete or FDM Polycarbonate?

Concrete conducts heat better: 0.9 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 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 PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelFDM Polycarbonate
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 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 PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickFDM Polycarbonate
Strength against density

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