Sumitomo Chemical SUMIKASUPER LCP E6006L (30% glass fibre; high strength, low shrinkage); SUMIKASUPER LCP Technical Note, Version 04 / Nov. 2023, typical values.
Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards.
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 LCP GF30 stronger than Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against tensile strength 115 MPa for Plastic LCP GF30 (3.35x).
Which is lighter, Plastic LCP GF30 or Steel?
Plastic LCP GF30 is lighter: 1,610 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Plastic LCP GF30 or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 11.5 GPa for Plastic LCP GF30, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic LCP GF30 or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic LCP GF30 is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension).
Part that must be
Plastic LCP GF30
Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
3.57x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
17% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
1.88x heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
46% heavier
Strong beam
lighter
2.18x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
2.66x 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 LCP GF30 or Steel?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 0.5 W/m·K for Plastic LCP GF30.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for Plastic LCP GF30.