Materials / Compare
Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Stainless 17-4PH
Compare Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Stainless 17-4PH 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 | 1,275MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 65MPasourcetypical, stress at break | 1,379MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip |
| Flexural strength | 97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 125%sourcetypical, strain at break | 9%sourcetypical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.4GPasourcetypical | 197GPasourceH 900 |
| Density | 1,200kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,800kg/m³sourceH 900 |
| Strength to weight | 54.2kN·m/kg | 163kN·m/kg3.02x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2MN·m/kg | 25.3MN·m/kg12.6x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.272sourceH 900 (column) |
| Shear modulus | 0.87GPa | 77.4GPa89.1x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 3.33GPa | 144GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,414m/s | 5,026m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C | 17.9W/m·Ksourceat 149 °C (300 °F), H 900 |
| Thermal expansion | 65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal | 10.8µm/m·Ksourcemean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900 |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 325µm growth | 54µm growth6.02x less |
| Specific heat | 1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766 | 460J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C, H 900 |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.142mm²/s | 4.99mm²/s35.1x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 51.7W/m | 7,809W/m151x more resistant |
| Glass transition | 144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm | 316°Csourcestrength-retention limit (not oxidation) |
| Values for | Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values | Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021) |
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 Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (19.6x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or Stainless 17-4PH?
Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Stainless 17-4PH.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in Stainless 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polycarbonate or Stainless 17-4PH?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Stainless 17-4PH is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | Plastic Polycarbonate | Stainless 17-4PH |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 12.6x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 39% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 50% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 3.02x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 12% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 47% 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 Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.
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