Materials / Compare
Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Solder SAC305
Compare Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Solder SAC305 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 | 65MPasourcetypical, tensile yield | 22MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 65MPasourcetypical, stress at break | 39.6MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 125%sourcetypical, strain at break | 49%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.4GPasourcetypical | 6.9GPasourcetypical, temperature and strain rate not stated |
| Density | 1,200kg/m³sourcetypical6.13x lighter | 7,350kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 54.2kN·m/kg18.1x higher | 2.99kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2MN·m/kg2.13x higher | 0.939MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.35sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 0.87GPa | 2.56GPa2.94x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 3.33GPa | 7.67GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,414m/s | 969m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C | 61W/m·Ksourcetypical, temperature not stated |
| Thermal expansion | 65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal | 21.9µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-100 °C (MacDermid Alpha) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 325µm growth | 110µm growth2.97x less |
| Specific heat | 1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766 | 232J/kg·Ksourcetypical (MacDermid Alpha) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.142mm²/s | 35.8mm²/s252x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 51.7W/m | 5,773W/m112x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 217–220°Csourcesolidus-liquidus |
| Glass transition | 144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm | not sourced |
| Values for | Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values | SAC305 (Sn96.5Ag3.0Cu0.5) solder alloy, bulk; Indium Corporation Indalloy 256 (SAC305) for Preforms product data sheet (Form No. 100346 R0, 2024), selected properties, test temperature not stated; expansion and specific heat from MacDermid Alpha VACULOY SAC TDS (06 September 2023). |
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 Solder SAC305?
Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against 22 MPa for Solder SAC305 (2.95x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or Solder SAC305?
Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 7,350 kg/m³ for Solder SAC305.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or Solder SAC305?
Solder SAC305 is stiffer: Young's modulus 6.9 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in Solder SAC305 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polycarbonate or Solder SAC305?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polycarbonate 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 | Solder SAC305 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2.13x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 3.61x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 4.31x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 18.1x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 12.6x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 10.5x 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 Polycarbonate or Solder SAC305?
Solder SAC305 conducts heat better: 61 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which expands less with temperature?
Solder SAC305 expands less: 21.9 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.