Materials / Compare
PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal
Compare PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | 69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 246–385MPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039) | 69MPasourcetypical |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation |
| Flexural strength | 531–621MPasourcetypical: cross direction .. length direction (IPC-TM-650 2.4.4B) | 99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 75%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 21.9–25.8GPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2) | 2.8GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 1,920kg/m³sourcetypical, 50% resin content; another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR | 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 | 164kN·m/kg3.38x higher | 48.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 12.4MN·m/kg6.3x higher | 1.97MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.171–0.177sourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction | 0.35sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 10.2GPa9.8x stiffer in shear | 1.04GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 12.2GPa | 3.11GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,525m/s | 1,404m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1952); direction not stated by the sheet | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 13–14µm/m·Ksourcetypical, in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C) | 122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 67.5µm growth9.04x less | 610µm growth |
| Specific heat | 1,200–1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1461); another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR | 1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.16mm²/s | 0.192mm²/s20% faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 324W/m6.16x more resistant | 52.5W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 175°Csourcecrystalline melting point |
| Glass transition | 180°Csourcetypical, DSC (IPC-TM-650 2.4.25C) | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 130°CsourceUL Relative Thermal Index (UL 796) | 125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed) |
| Values for | Isola 370HR FR-4 laminate (Polyclad PCL-FR-370HR, 180 C Tg multifunctional epoxy, E-glass fabric), copper removed; Isola data sheet Revision C, last updated April 15, 2021. Woven-glass laminate: the sheet gives in-plane values per weave direction (length / cross) and the Z-axis CTE separately; the solver is isotropic per material. | 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.
Questions
Is PCB Laminate FR-4 stronger than Plastic POM/Acetal?
PCB Laminate FR-4 is stronger: its tensile strength is 315 MPa against yield strength 69 MPa for Plastic POM/Acetal (4.57x).
Which is lighter, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter: 1,420 kg/m³ against 1,920 kg/m³ for PCB Laminate FR-4.
Which is stiffer, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
PCB Laminate FR-4 is stiffer: Young's modulus 23.9 GPa against 2.8 GPa for Plastic POM/Acetal, so the same part in PCB Laminate FR-4 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
For the same stiffness or strength: PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | PCB Laminate FR-4 | Plastic POM/Acetal |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 6.3x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.16x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.51x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 3.38x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.04x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.58x 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, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
PCB Laminate FR-4 conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.
Which expands less with temperature?
PCB Laminate FR-4 expands less: 13.5 µm/m·K against 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.
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