Materials / Compare
Plastic PMMA vs. Plastic Polypropylene
Compare Plastic PMMA vs. Plastic Polypropylene 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) | 33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C | not sourced |
| Compressive strength | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 115MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 5.5%sourcetypical | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term | 1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527 |
| Density | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical | 900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1 |
| Strength to weight | 67.2kN·m/kg1.83x higher | 36.7kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.77MN·m/kg1.72x higher | 1.61MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.37sourcetypical | 0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| Shear modulus | 1.2GPa2.36x stiffer in shear | 0.511GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 4.23GPa | 3.02GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,665m/s | 1,269m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical | 0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| Thermal expansion | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C | 80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 350µm growth29% less | 450µm growth |
| Specific heat | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.109mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 41.5W/m45% more resistant | 28.6W/m |
| Max service temperature | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature | 90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed |
| Values for | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) | 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 Plastic PMMA stronger than Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against yield strength 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (2.42x).
Which is lighter, Plastic PMMA or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for Plastic PMMA.
Which is stiffer, Plastic PMMA or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic PMMA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.3 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, so the same part in Plastic PMMA deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PMMA or Plastic Polypropylene?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PMMA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic PMMA | Plastic Polypropylene |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 1.72x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 14% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | about equal | about equal |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.83x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 36% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 18% 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 PMMA or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene conducts heat better: 0.195 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PMMA expands less: 70 µm/m·K against 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.