Materials / Compare

Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Titanium

Compare Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Titanium strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)
TitaniumWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength65MPasourcetypical, tensile yield885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strength65MPasourcetypical, stress at break940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed
Flexural strength97MPasourcetypical, flexural strengthnot sourced
Elongation at break125%sourcetypical, strain at break16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.4GPasourcetypical107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C
Density1,200kg/m³sourcetypical4,430kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight54.2kN·m/kg200kN·m/kg3.69x higher
Stiffness to weight2MN·m/kg25.8MN·m/kg12.9x higher
Poisson's ratio0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements
Shear modulus0.87GPa42.7GPa49.1x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.33GPa121GPa
Speed of sound1,414m/s5,084m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed
Thermal expansion65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing325µm growth45µm growth7.22x less
Specific heat1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.142mm²/s2.57mm²/s18.1x faster
Thermal shock resistance51.7W/m3,730W/m72.2x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range
Glass transition144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/minnot sourced
Max service temperature125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature
Values forCovestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical valuesTIMETAL 6-4 (Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5) annealed plate typical (TIMET properties manual) + TIMET datasheet TMC-0150 physical properties

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 Titanium?

Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (13.6x).

Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or Titanium?

Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 4,430 kg/m³ for Titanium.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or Titanium?

Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 115 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in Titanium deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polycarbonate or Titanium?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; Titanium is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must bePlastic PolycarbonateTitanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)12.9x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.87x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter2% heavier
Strong rod or tie3.69x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.54x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plateabout equalabout equal

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 Titanium?

Titanium conducts heat better: 6.6 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronSteel 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 POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic 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 PolycarbonateTitanium
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronSteel 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 POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic 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 PolycarbonateTitanium
Strength against density

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