Materials / Compare
Plastic UHMWPE vs. Steel
Compare Plastic UHMWPE 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 | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Elongation at break | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 930kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 21.5kN·m/kg | 49kN·m/kg2.28x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 0.71MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg35.9x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 76.9GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 842m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 1,000µm growth | 60µm growth16.7x less |
| 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 | not sourced | 5,390W/m |
| Melting point | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature | not sourced |
| Values for | 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) | 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 UHMWPE stronger than Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (19.3x).
Which is lighter, Plastic UHMWPE or Steel?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Plastic UHMWPE or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic UHMWPE or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic UHMWPE is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | Plastic UHMWPE | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 35.9x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 2.06x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 26% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.28x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 18% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.92x 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 UHMWPE or Steel?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.