Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Plastic PPS GF40

Compare Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Plastic PPS GF40 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Plastic PPS GF40Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	65MPasourcetypical, tensile yield	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	65MPasourcetypical, stress at break	195MPasourcetensile strength, 5 mm/min
Flexural strength	97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength	285MPasourceflexural strength at break
Elongation at break	125%sourcetypical, strain at break	1.9%sourcestrain at break, 5 mm/min
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.4GPasourcetypical	14.7GPasourcetypical, 1 mm/min
Density	1,200kg/m³sourcetypical38% lighter	1,650kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	54.2kN·m/kg	118kN·m/kg2.18x higher
Stiffness to weight	2MN·m/kg	8.91MN·m/kg4.45x higher
Poisson's ratio	0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)	0.35sourceglass-reinforced Fortron PPS (class value, not grade-specific)
Shear modulus	0.87GPa	5.44GPa6.26x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	3.33GPa	16.3GPa
Speed of sound	1,414m/s	2,985m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C	0.2W/m·Ksource40% glass-reinforced Fortron, 25 °C (not grade-specific)
Thermal expansion	65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal	12µm/m·Ksourceparallel (flow), mean -50 to 90 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	325µm growth	60µm growth5.42x less
Specific heat	1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.142mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	51.7W/m	144W/m2.78x more resistant
Melting point	not sourced	280°CsourceDSC, 10 °C/min
Glass transition	144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min	90°CsourceDSC, 10 °C/min
Max service temperature	125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm	270°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values for	Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values	Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).

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 Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stronger: its tensile strength is 195 MPa against yield strength 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (3x).

Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 1,650 kg/m³ for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stiffer: Young's modulus 14.7 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in Plastic PPS GF40 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PPS GF40 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 Polycarbonate	Plastic PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	4.45x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	1.8x heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	33% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	2.18x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	1.51x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	26% 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, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic PPS GF40 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density