Copper C10100 vs. Plastic PLA

Compare Copper C10100 vs. Plastic PLA strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Copper C10100	Plastic PLA
Yield strength	69MPa131% stronger	52.5MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	221MPa14.21x stronger	52.5MPa2
Flexural strength	not sourced	96.8MPa2
Elongation at break	45%15.77x more ductile	7.8%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	117GPa136.1x stiffer	3.25GPa2
Density	8,941kg/m³1	1,240kg/m³27.21x lighter
Strength to weight	7.72kN·m/kg	42.3kN·m/kg5.49x higher
Stiffness to weight	13.1MN·m/kg5x higher	2.62MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.343	not sourced
Shear modulus	43.7GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	122GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	3,621m/s2.24x faster	1,619m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Copper C10100	Plastic PLA
Thermal conductivity	391W/m·K13,008x more heat through a fin	base material0.13W/m·K4
Thermal expansion	16.9µm/m·K1	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	84.5µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	385J/kg·K1	base material1,200J/kg·K43.12x higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	114mm²/s1,300x faster	0.0874mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	8,992W/m	not sourced
Melting point	melting point1,083°C1931 °C higher	152°C2
Glass transition	not sourced	59.1°C2
Max service temperature	not sourced	HDT 0.455 MPa58.8°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources4 documents: Copper Development Association, UltiMaker, Wieland, NatureWorks

Copper C10100: C10100 oxygen-free electronic (OFE) copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.04 in. flat products, copper.org typical values
Plastic PLA: Ultimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated April 20, 2022.

1
C10100 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C10100 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C10100 · Density: nominalCopper C10100 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C10100 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Melting point: melting point (liquidus = solidus, pure copper)
2
Ultimaker PLA Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic PLA · Yield strength: typicalPlastic PLA · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic PLA · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic PLA · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic PLA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic PLA · Density: typicalPlastic PLA · Melting point: typicalPlastic PLA · Glass transition: typicalPlastic PLA · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
3
Wieland-K09 (Cu-OFE, C10100) Data SheetWielandCopper C10100 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K09 = Cu-OFE = C10100, rolled products)
4
Engineering Properties of Ingeo BiopolymerNatureWorksarchived copyPlastic PLA · Thermal conductivity: base material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °CPlastic PLA · Specific heat: base material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

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

Questions

Mechanical

Is Copper C10100 stronger than Plastic PLA?

Copper C10100 is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (31%).

Which is lighter, Copper C10100 or Plastic PLA?

Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.

Which is stiffer, Copper C10100 or Plastic PLA?

Copper C10100 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, so the same part in Copper C10100 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C10100 or Plastic PLA?

For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C10100 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic PLA is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Copper C10100	Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	5x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	20% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.18x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	5.49x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	6.01x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	6.29x heavier	lighter

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).

Which is more ductile, Copper C10100 or Plastic PLA?

Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 7.8% for Plastic PLA.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C10100 or Plastic PLA?

Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.