Materials / Compare
FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic POM/Acetal
Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic POM/Acetal 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 | 53.3MPasourcetypical | 69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 69MPasourcetypical |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation |
| Flexural strength | 89.4MPasourcetypical | 99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical | 75%sourcetypical8.15x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.39GPasourcetypical | 2.8GPasourcetypical17% stiffer |
| Density | 1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange | 1,420kg/m³sourcetypical (DuPont product information for Delrin 100 NC010; 'The data listed here fall within the normal range of product properties') |
| Strength to weight | 44.8kN·m/kg | 48.6kN·m/kg8% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.01MN·m/kg2% higher | 1.97MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.35sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 0.867GPa | 1.04GPa20% stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 3.33GPa | 3.11GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,418m/s | 1,404m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel | 122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 325µm growth1.88x less | 610µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.192mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 42.5W/m | 52.5W/m24% more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 175°Csourcecrystalline melting point |
| Glass transition | 108°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed) |
| Values for | Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 20, 2022. | DuPont Delrin 100 acetal homopolymer, Table 2 'Typical Properties of Delrin Acetal Resins' (ASTM methods), Delrin Design Guide Module III hosted on delrin.com |
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.
FDM Polycarbonate is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is stronger: its yield strength is 69 MPa against 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (29%).
Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic POM/Acetal?
FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 1,420 kg/m³ for Plastic POM/Acetal.
Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.8 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in Plastic POM/Acetal deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic POM/Acetal?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter for a strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | FDM Polycarbonate | Plastic POM/Acetal |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 10% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 13% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 8% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | about equal | about equal |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 5% 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 is more ductile, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal stretches further before it breaks: 75% elongation at break against 9.2% for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which conducts heat better, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.
Among 59 materials
Related comparisons
- FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic Nylon
- FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic Polycarbonate
- FDM Polycarbonate vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
- FDM Polycarbonate vs. SLA Resin Standard
- Plastic POM/Acetal vs. SLA Resin Standard
- Plastic POM/Acetal vs. Plastic Polycarbonate
- Plastic POM/Acetal vs. Plastic PMMA
- Plastic POM/Acetal vs. Plastic Nylon