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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Sources5 documents: Copper Development Association, Victrex, 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 PEEK
Victrex PEEK 450G (unreinforced, injection moulded), Victrex TDS rev. March 2026; Poisson from Victrex fluid-management flyer (2020-07)
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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
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VICTREX PEEK 450G Technical Data SheetVictrexPlastic PEEK · Yield strength: typical, tensile yieldPlastic PEEK · Compressive strength: typical, 23 CPlastic PEEK · Flexural strength: typical, flexural stress at yield, 23 CPlastic PEEK · Elongation at break: typical, at breakPlastic PEEK · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical (nominal)Plastic PEEK · Density: typical (crystalline)Plastic PEEK · Thermal conductivity: typical, average, 23 CPlastic PEEK · Thermal expansion: average of flow/cross-flow, below Tg (<143 C)Plastic PEEK · Melting point: typical, DSCPlastic PEEK · Glass transition: onset (midpoint 150 C)Plastic PEEK · Max service temperature: UL 746B RTI, mechanical strength (continuous use index)
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Wieland-K19 (Cu-DHP, C12200) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C12200 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K19 = Cu-DHP = C12200, rolled products)
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VICTREX PEEK for Use in Fluid Management (2020)VictrexPlastic PEEK · Poisson's ratio: typical
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VICTREX PEEK 450G Technical Data Sheet (2012)Victrexarchived copyPlastic PEEK · Specific heat: typical, 23 °C, DSC (Victrex PEEK 450G TDS, revision Jul 2012)
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 PEEK?
Plastic PEEK is stronger: its yield strength is 98 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C12200 (42%).
Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Plastic PEEK?
Plastic PEEK is lighter: 1,300 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.
Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Plastic PEEK?
Copper C12200 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 4 GPa for Plastic PEEK, so the same part in Copper C12200 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Plastic PEEK?
For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C12200 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic PEEK 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 PEEK
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
4.26x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
27% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
2.23x heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
9.77x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
8.69x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
8.2x 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 PEEK?
Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 25% for Plastic PEEK.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Plastic PEEK?
Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 0.29 W/m·K for Plastic PEEK.
Which expands less with temperature?
Copper C12200 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 55 µm/m·K for Plastic PEEK.