Materials / Compare
Plastic PPS GF40 vs. Steel
Compare Plastic PPS GF40 vs. Steel 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 | not given (tensile used) | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 195MPasourcetensile strength, 5 mm/min | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Flexural strength | 285MPasourceflexural strength at break | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.9%sourcestrain at break, 5 mm/min | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 14.7GPasourcetypical, 1 mm/min | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 1,650kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 118kN·m/kg2.41x higher | 49kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 8.91MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg2.86x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.35sourceglass-reinforced Fortron PPS (class value, not grade-specific) | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | 5.44GPa | 76.9GPa14.1x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 16.3GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 2,985m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.2W/m·Ksource40% glass-reinforced Fortron, 25 °C (not grade-specific) | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 12µm/m·Ksourceparallel (flow), mean -50 to 90 °C | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 60µm growth | 60µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 13mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 144W/m | 5,390W/m37.5x more resistant |
| Melting point | 280°CsourceDSC, 10 °C/min | not sourced |
| Glass transition | 90°CsourceDSC, 10 °C/min | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 270°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | not sourced |
| Values for | 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). | 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 PPS GF40 stronger than Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against tensile strength 195 MPa for Plastic PPS GF40 (1.97x).
Which is lighter, Plastic PPS GF40 or Steel?
Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter: 1,650 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Plastic PPS GF40 or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 14.7 GPa for Plastic PPS GF40, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PPS GF40 or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PPS GF40 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 PPS GF40 | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2.86x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 29% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.99x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.41x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 3.02x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3.39x 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 PPS GF40 or Steel?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 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 12 µm/m·K for Steel.