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Plastic HDPE vs. Plastic UHMWPE Compare Plastic HDPE vs. Plastic UHMWPE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum ADC12 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Magnesium AZ91D Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Solder SAC305 Plastic HDPE Bulk polymer (molded or machined) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum ADC12 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Magnesium AZ91D Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Solder SAC305 Plastic UHMWPE Bulk polymer (molded or machined) 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 24 MPa source typical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 20 MPa source typical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min Ultimate tensile strength not sourced 43 MPa source typical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min Elongation at break not sourced 465 % source typical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 Young's modulus (stiffness) 0.9 GPa source typical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 0.66 GPa source typical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min Density 950 kg/m³ source typical, ISO 1183 930 kg/m³ source typical Strength to weight 25.3 kN·m/kg 17% higher 21.5 kN·m/kg Stiffness to weight 0.947 MN·m/kg 33% higher 0.71 MN·m/kg Poisson's ratio 0.4–0.45 source base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) not sourced Shear modulus 0.316 GPa not sourced Bulk modulus 2 GPa not sourced Speed of sound 973 m/s 842 m/s Thermal Thermal conductivity 0.4–0.49 W/m·K source base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) 0.4 W/m·K source typical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) Thermal expansion 120 µm/m·K source base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) 200 µm/m·K source typical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing 600 µm growth 1.67x less 1,000 µm growth Specific heat 2,250 J/kg·K source base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) not sourced Heats up and cools (diffusivity) 0.208 mm²/s not sourced Thermal shock resistance 56.9 W/m not sourced Melting point not sourced 130–138 °C source DSC 10 K/min Max service temperature not sourced 80 °C source recommended max constant operating temperature Values for LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO 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 Plastic HDPE stronger than Plastic UHMWPE? Plastic HDPE is stronger: its yield strength is 24 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (20%).
Which is lighter, Plastic HDPE or Plastic UHMWPE? Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 950 kg/m³ for Plastic HDPE.
Which is stiffer, Plastic HDPE or Plastic UHMWPE? Plastic HDPE is stiffer: Young's modulus 0.9 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Plastic HDPE deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic HDPE or Plastic UHMWPE? For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic HDPE 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 Plastic HDPE Plastic UHMWPE Stiff rod or tie (tension) lighter 33% heavier Stiff beam (bending) lighter 14% heavier Stiff panel or plate lighter 9% heavier Strong rod or tie lighter 17% heavier Strong beam lighter 11% heavier Strong panel or plate lighter 7% 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 Plastic UHMWPE? Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which expands less with temperature? Plastic HDPE expands less: 120 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.
Among 72 materials 1k 10k 0.1 1 10 100 Density (kg/m³) Young's modulus (GPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Plastic HDPE Plastic UHMWPE Stiffness against density 1k 10k 10 100 1k Density (kg/m³) Yield strength (MPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Rubber Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Brick PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Plastic HDPE Plastic UHMWPE Strength against density