Materials / Compare

Concrete vs. Rubber

Compare Concrete vs. Rubber strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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ConcreteCast
RubberBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourcednot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced23MPasourcetypical
Compressive strength27.6MPasourcespecified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typicalnot sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced830%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourcednot sourced
Density2,240–2,400kg/m³sourcerange for normalweight concrete960kg/m³sourcetypical (specific gravity)
Strength to weightnot sourced24kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourcednot sourced
Poisson's ratio0.15–0.2sourcegeneral range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)0.5sourcegovernment (NBS J. Res. 68A, 1964): computed by NBS for peroxide-cured gum NR vulcanizate, 25 °C, infinitesimal deformation0.49 in the solver: the linear element locks as the ratio nears 0.5 (nearly incompressible).
Shear modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Bulk modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Speed of soundnot sourcednot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (comparative value)0.151W/m·Ksourcegovernment selected value (US Army Natick Laboratories TR 66-49-PR, 1966), soft vulcanized natural rubber, 25 °C
Thermal expansion8–12µm/m·Ksourcetypical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing50µm growthnot sourced
Specific heat900J/kg·Ksourcetypical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)1,881J/kg·Ksourcegovernment (NBS J. Res. 68A, Table 7; values observed for unvulcanized NR by Bekkedahl and Matheson), 25 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.431mm²/s5.15x faster0.0836mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Max service temperature65°Csourcecode long-term temperature limit (ASME Code, concrete containments)70°Csourcecontinuous use operating range
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 reviewWeir Minerals Linatex Premium rubber (95 % natural rubber), typical physical properties, spec sheet WMD0118/202305

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 Rubber?

Rubber is lighter: 960 kg/m³ against 2,320 kg/m³ for Concrete.

Which conducts heat better, Concrete or Rubber?

Concrete conducts heat better: 0.9 W/m·K against 0.151 W/m·K for Rubber.

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 PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)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 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 SteelBrickRubber
Strength against density

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