Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources3 documents: Copper Development Association, Röhm, Wieland
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 PMMA
Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1)
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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)
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PLEXIGLAS GS and XT Technical Information (Ref. No. 211-1)Röhmarchived copyPlastic PMMA · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic PMMA · Compressive strength: compressive yield stress, typicalPlastic PMMA · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic PMMA · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic PMMA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, short-termPlastic PMMA · Density: typicalPlastic PMMA · Poisson's ratio: typicalPlastic PMMA · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic PMMA · Thermal expansion: 0-50 °CPlastic PMMA · Specific heat: typicalPlastic PMMA · Max service temperature: max. permanent service temperature
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Wieland-K09 (Cu-OFE, C10100) Data SheetWielandCopper C10100 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K09 = Cu-OFE = C10100, rolled products)
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.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Copper C10100 stronger than Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against yield strength 69 MPa for Copper C10100 (16%).
Which is lighter, Copper C10100 or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.
Which is stiffer, Copper C10100 or Plastic PMMA?
Copper C10100 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 3.3 GPa for Plastic PMMA, so the same part in Copper C10100 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C10100 or Plastic PMMA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C10100 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic PMMA 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 PMMA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
4.73x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
26% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
2.29x heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
8.71x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
8.29x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
8.09x 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 PMMA?
Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 5.5% for Plastic PMMA.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C10100 or Plastic PMMA?
Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Copper C10100 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 70 µm/m·K for Plastic PMMA.