Copper C12200 vs. Plastic LCP GF30

Compare Copper C12200 vs. Plastic LCP GF30 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic LCP GF30Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Copper C12200	Plastic LCP GF30
Yield strength	69MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	221MPa11.92x stronger	tensile strength115MPa2
Flexural strength	not sourced	184MPa2
Elongation at break	45%130x more ductile	tensile elongation1.5%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	117GPa110.2x stiffer	tensile modulus11.5GPa2
Density	8,941kg/m³1	1,610kg/m³25.55x lighter
Strength to weight	7.72kN·m/kg	71.4kN·m/kg9.26x higher
Stiffness to weight	13.1MN·m/kg1.84x higher	7.14MN·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/s35% faster	2,673m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Copper C12200	Plastic LCP GF30
Thermal conductivity	339W/m·K1678x more heat through a fin	hot disk0.5W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	16.9µm/m·K118% less	flow direction20µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	84.5µm growth18% less	100µm growth
Specific heat	385J/kg·K1	ASTM E1269839J/kg·K22.18x higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	98.5mm²/s266x faster	0.37mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	7,799W/m	not sourced
Melting point	liquidus1,083°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	not sourced	HDT 1.8 MPa288°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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Sources3 documents: Copper Development Association, Sumitomo Chemical, Wieland

Copper C12200: C12200 phosphorus-deoxidized copper (DHP, the air-conditioning and refrigeration tube copper), tube annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.065 in. wall, copper.org typical values
Plastic LCP GF30: Sumitomo Chemical SUMIKASUPER LCP E6006L (30% glass fibre; high strength, low shrinkage); SUMIKASUPER LCP Technical Note, Version 04 / Nov. 2023, typical values.

1
C12200 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C12200 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C12200 · Density: nominalCopper C12200 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C12200 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Melting point: liquidus
2
SUMIKASUPER LCP Technical Note, Version 04 (2023)Sumitomo Chemicalarchived copyPlastic LCP GF30 · Ultimate tensile strength: tensile strength (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Flexural strength: typical (ISO 178)Plastic LCP GF30 · Elongation at break: tensile elongation (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Young's modulus (stiffness): tensile modulus (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Density: typicalPlastic LCP GF30 · Thermal conductivity: hot disk (ISO 22007-2), temperature not statedPlastic LCP GF30 · Thermal expansion: flow direction (MD), mean 50-150 °CPlastic LCP GF30 · Specific heat: ASTM E1269, temperature not statedPlastic LCP GF30 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa (ISO 75)
3
Wieland-K19 (Cu-DHP, C12200) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C12200 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K19 = Cu-DHP = C12200, 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 C12200 stronger than Plastic LCP GF30?

Plastic LCP GF30 is stronger: its tensile strength is 115 MPa against yield strength 69 MPa for Copper C12200 (1.67x).

Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Plastic LCP GF30?

Plastic LCP GF30 is lighter: 1,610 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.

Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Plastic LCP GF30?

Copper C12200 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 11.5 GPa for Plastic LCP GF30, so the same part in Copper C12200 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Plastic LCP GF30?

For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C12200 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic LCP GF30 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 C12200	Plastic LCP GF30
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	1.84x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	1.74x heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.56x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	9.26x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	7.81x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	7.17x 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 C12200 or Plastic LCP GF30?

Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 1.5% for Plastic LCP GF30.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Plastic LCP GF30?

Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 0.5 W/m·K for Plastic LCP GF30.

Which expands less with temperature?

Copper C12200 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for Plastic LCP GF30.