Materials / Compare

Concrete vs. Plastic Polypropylene

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

Change either side
ConcreteCast
Plastic PolypropyleneBulk polymer (molded or machined)
Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourcednot sourced
Compressive strength27.6MPasourcespecified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typicalnot sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourcednot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527
Density2,240–2,400kg/m³sourcerange for normalweight concrete900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1
Strength to weightnot sourced36.7kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourced1.61MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.15–0.2sourcegeneral range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Shear modulusnot sourced0.511GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced3.02GPa
Speed of soundnot sourced1,269m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (comparative value)0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Thermal expansion8–12µm/m·Ksourcetypical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing50µm growth9x less450µm growth
Specific heat900J/kg·Ksourcetypical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.431mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced28.6W/m
Max service temperature65°Csourcecode long-term temperature limit (ASME Code, concrete containments)90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed
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 reviewLyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO values

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 Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 2,320 kg/m³ for Concrete.

Which conducts heat better, Concrete or Plastic Polypropylene?

Concrete conducts heat better: 0.9 W/m·K against 0.195 W/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.

Which expands less with temperature?

Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.

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

Related comparisons