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Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic Polycarbonate

Compare Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Nickel Inconel 718Wrought
Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset65MPasourcetypical, tensile yield
Ultimate tensile strength1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar65MPasourcetypical, stress at break
Flexural strengthnot sourced97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength
Elongation at break20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar125%sourcetypical, strain at break
Young's modulus (stiffness)200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged2.4GPasourcetypical
Density8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged1,200kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight147kN·m/kg2.71x higher54.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight24.3MN·m/kg12.2x higher2MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus77.3GPa88.9x stiffer in shear0.87GPa
Bulk modulus162GPa3.33GPa
Speed of sound4,932m/s1,414m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C
Thermal expansion13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing66µm growth4.92x less325µm growth
Specific heat435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)3.19mm²/s22.4x faster0.142mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance3,680W/m71.2x more resistant51.7W/m
Melting point1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min
Max service temperature704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
Values forINCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical valuesCovestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values

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 Nickel Inconel 718 stronger than Plastic Polycarbonate?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (18.6x).

Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Polycarbonate?

For the same stiffness or strength: Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam; Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beNickel Inconel 718Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter12.2x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter33% heavier
Stiff panel or plate1.57x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter2.71x heavier
Strong beamlighter2% heavier
Strong panel or plate1.59x heavierlighter

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, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelNickel Inconel 718Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickNickel Inconel 718Plastic Polycarbonate
Strength against density

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