Materials / Compare
Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare Nickel Inconel 718 vs. Plastic UHMWPE 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 | 1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Elongation at break | 20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged | 930kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 147kN·m/kg6.83x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 24.3MN·m/kg34.3x higher | 0.71MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 77.3GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 162GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 4,932m/s | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a) | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 66µm growth15.2x less | 1,000µm growth |
| Specific heat | 435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 3.19mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 3,680W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | 1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Max service temperature | 704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature |
| Values for | INCONEL 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 values | Celanese GUR 4120 (avg. molecular weight 4.7x10^6 g/mol), typical values on compression-molded specimens; CTE and thermal conductivity from Celanese's generic UHMWPE guide (grade not named) |
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 UHMWPE?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (60.4x).
Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.
Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic UHMWPE?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, 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 UHMWPE?
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 UHMWPE is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Nickel Inconel 718 | Plastic UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 34.3x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.97x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | 32% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 6.83x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.74x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | 14% 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 conducts heat better, Nickel Inconel 718 or Plastic UHMWPE?
Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.