Copper C12200 vs. Plastic PPS GF40

Compare Copper C12200 vs. Plastic PPS GF40 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic PPS GF40Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Copper C12200	Plastic PPS GF40
Yield strength	69MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	221MPa113% stronger	tensile strength195MPa2
Flexural strength	not sourced	285MPa2
Elongation at break	45%123.7x more ductile	strain at break1.9%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	117GPa17.97x stiffer	14.7GPa2
Density	8,941kg/m³1	1,650kg/m³25.42x lighter
Strength to weight	7.72kN·m/kg	118kN·m/kg15.3x higher
Stiffness to weight	13.1MN·m/kg47% higher	8.91MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.343	0.354
Shear modulus	43.7GPa8.03x stiffer in shear	5.44GPa
Bulk modulus	122GPa7.47x higher	16.3GPa
Speed of sound	3,621m/s21% faster	2,985m/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 PPS GF40
Thermal conductivity	339W/m·K11,696x more heat through a fin	0.2W/m·K4
Thermal expansion	16.9µm/m·K1	parallel12µm/m·K241% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	84.5µm growth	60µm growth41% less
Specific heat	385J/kg·K1	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	98.5mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	7,799W/m54.3x more resistant	144W/m
Melting point	liquidus1,083°C1803 °C higher	DSC280°C2
Glass transition	not sourced	DSC90°C2
Max service temperature	not sourced	HDT 1.8 MPa270°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, Celanese, 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 PPS GF40: Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).

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
Fortron PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012)CelanesePlastic PPS GF40 · Ultimate tensile strength: tensile strength, 5 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Flexural strength: flexural strength at breakPlastic PPS GF40 · Elongation at break: strain at break, 5 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 1 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Density: typicalPlastic PPS GF40 · Thermal expansion: parallel (flow), mean -50 to 90 °CPlastic PPS GF40 · Melting point: DSC, 10 °C/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Glass transition: DSC, 10 °C/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
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)
4
Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050)CelanesePlastic PPS GF40 · Poisson's ratio: glass-reinforced Fortron PPS (class value, not grade-specific)Plastic PPS GF40 · Thermal conductivity: 40% glass-reinforced Fortron, 25 °C (not grade-specific)

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 PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stronger: its tensile strength is 195 MPa against yield strength 69 MPa for Copper C12200 (2.83x).

Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter: 1,650 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.

Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Plastic PPS GF40?

Copper C12200 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 14.7 GPa for Plastic PPS GF40, so the same part in Copper C12200 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Plastic PPS GF40?

For the same stiffness or strength: Copper C12200 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic PPS GF40 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 PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	47% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	1.92x heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.71x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	15.3x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	10.8x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	9.11x 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 PPS GF40?

Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 1.9% for Plastic PPS GF40.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Plastic PPS GF40?

Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic PPS GF40 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C12200.