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Concrete vs. Plastic PMMA

Compare Concrete vs. Plastic PMMA strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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ConcreteCast
Plastic PMMABulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourcednot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C
Compressive strength27.6MPasourcespecified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typical110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical
Flexural strengthnot sourced115MPasourcetypical
Elongation at breaknot sourced5.5%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term
Density2,240–2,400kg/m³sourcerange for normalweight concrete1,190kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced67.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourced2.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.15–0.2sourcegeneral range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)0.37sourcetypical
Shear modulusnot sourced1.2GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced4.23GPa
Speed of soundnot sourced1,665m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (comparative value)0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion8–12µm/m·Ksourcetypical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing50µm growth7x less350µm growth
Specific heat900J/kg·Ksourcetypical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.431mm²/s3.97x faster0.109mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced41.5W/m
Max service temperature65°Csourcecode long-term temperature limit (ASME Code, concrete containments)80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature
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 reviewRöhm 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, Concrete or Plastic PMMA?

Plastic PMMA is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 2,320 kg/m³ for Concrete.

Which conducts heat better, Concrete or Plastic PMMA?

Concrete conducts heat better: 0.9 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.

Which expands less with temperature?

Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 70 µm/m·K for Plastic PMMA.

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 PolypropyleneFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PMMA
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 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 SteelBrickPlastic PMMA
Strength against density

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