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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Sources4 documents: Copper Development Association, UltiMaker, Wieland, NatureWorks
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 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.
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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
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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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 C12200 stronger than Plastic PLA?
Copper C12200 is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (31%).
Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.
Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Plastic PLA?
Copper C12200 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, so the same part in Copper C12200 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Plastic PLA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C12200 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 C12200
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 C12200 or Plastic PLA?
Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 7.8% for Plastic PLA.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Plastic PLA?
Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.