Materials / Compare

Plywood vs. Plastic Polypropylene

Compare Plywood vs. Plastic Polypropylene strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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PlywoodNatural
Plastic PolypropyleneBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527
Ultimate tensile strength41.4MPasourcemodulus of rupture (no direct tensile value)not sourced
Flexural strength41.4MPasourcestatic bending MOR (Douglas-fir); range 33.72-42.61 across speciesnot sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourcednot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)7.45GPasourcestatic bending MOE of the panel (Douglas-fir); range 6.96-8.55 across species1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527
Densitynot sourced900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1
Strength to weightnot sourced36.7kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourced1.61MN·m/kg
Poisson's rationot sourced0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Shear modulusnot sourced0.511GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced3.02GPa
Speed of soundnot sourced1,269m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.12W/m·KsourceAPA-recommended design value (Douglas-fir plywood), as reported by FPL/ORNL0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Thermal expansion3.1–4.5µm/m·Ksourcebase material: solid wood parallel to grain, ovendry, range across species80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing19µm growth23.7x less450µm growth
Specific heat1,700J/kg·Ksourcebase material: solid wood (all species), 12% MC, 27 Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourcednot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced28.6W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourced90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed
Values forDouglas-fir plywood sheathing (construction plywood per PS 1), static bending properties from USDA FPL Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 Ch. 12 Table 12-2 (Biblis 2000)LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO values

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 Plywood stronger than Plastic Polypropylene?

Plywood is stronger: its tensile strength is 41.4 MPa against yield strength 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (25%).

Which is stiffer, Plywood or Plastic Polypropylene?

Plywood is stiffer: Young's modulus 7.45 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, so the same part in Plywood deflects less under the same load.

Which conducts heat better, Plywood or Plastic Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene conducts heat better: 0.195 W/m·K against 0.12 W/m·K for Plywood.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plywood expands less: 3.8 µm/m·K against 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic Polypropylene
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic Polypropylene
Strength against density

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