Materials / Compare
Plastic HDPE vs. Plastic PTFE
Compare Plastic HDPE vs. Plastic PTFE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 | 9MPasourcetypical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 39.3MPasourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 350%sourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 | not sourced |
| Density | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 | 2,160kg/m³sourcetypical (standard specific gravity, ASTM D4894) |
| Strength to weight | 25.3kN·m/kg6.06x higher | 4.17kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 0.947MN·m/kg | not sourced |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 0.46sourcetypical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook) |
| Shear modulus | 0.316GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 2GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 973m/s | not sourced |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 0.25W/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimen |
| Thermal expansion | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 100µm/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 600µm growth | 500µm growth20% less |
| Specific heat | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.208mm²/s2.52x faster | 0.0827mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 56.9W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | not sourced | 327°Csourcesecond melting peak (sintered polymer), +/-10 |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 260°Csourceservice temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement) |
| Values for | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values | Chemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape) |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Plastic HDPE stronger than Plastic PTFE?
Plastic HDPE is stronger: its yield strength is 24 MPa against 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (2.67x).
Which is lighter, Plastic HDPE or Plastic PTFE?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 2,160 kg/m³ for Plastic PTFE.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic HDPE or Plastic PTFE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic HDPE is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic HDPE | Plastic PTFE |
|---|---|---|
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 6.06x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 4.37x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3.71x heavier |
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 conducts heat better, Plastic HDPE or Plastic PTFE?
Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.25 W/m·K for Plastic PTFE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PTFE expands less: 100 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.