Materials / Compare
Plastic HDPE vs. Rubber
Compare Plastic HDPE vs. Rubber 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 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 23MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 830%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 | not sourced |
| Density | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 | 960kg/m³sourcetypical (specific gravity) |
| Strength to weight | 25.3kN·m/kg5% higher | 24kN·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) | 0.5sourcegovernment (NBS J. Res. 68A, 1964): computed by NBS for peroxide-cured gum NR vulcanizate, 25 °C, infinitesimal deformation0.49 in the solver: the linear element locks as the ratio nears 0.5 (nearly incompressible). |
| 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) | 0.151W/m·Ksourcegovernment selected value (US Army Natick Laboratories TR 66-49-PR, 1966), soft vulcanized natural rubber, 25 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | not sourced |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 600µm growth | not sourced |
| Specific heat | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 1,881J/kg·Ksourcegovernment (NBS J. Res. 68A, Table 7; values observed for unvulcanized NR by Bekkedahl and Matheson), 25 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.208mm²/s2.49x faster | 0.0836mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 56.9W/m | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 70°Csourcecontinuous use operating range |
| Values for | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values | Weir Minerals Linatex Premium rubber (95 % natural rubber), typical physical properties, spec sheet WMD0118/202305 |
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 Rubber?
Plastic HDPE is stronger: its yield strength is 24 MPa against tensile strength 23 MPa for Rubber (4%).
Which is lighter, Plastic HDPE or Rubber?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 960 kg/m³ for Rubber.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic HDPE or Rubber?
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 | Rubber |
|---|---|---|
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 5% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 4% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3% 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 Rubber?
Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.151 W/m·K for Rubber.