Materials / Compare
Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Plastic UHMWPE 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 | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 65MPasourcetypical, stress at break | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Flexural strength | 97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 125%sourcetypical, strain at break | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.4GPasourcetypical | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 1,200kg/m³sourcetypical | 930kg/m³sourcetypical29% lighter |
| Strength to weight | 54.2kN·m/kg2.52x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2MN·m/kg2.82x higher | 0.71MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 0.87GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 3.33GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 1,414m/s | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 325µm growth3.08x less | 1,000µm growth |
| Specific heat | 1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766 | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.142mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 51.7W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | not sourced | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Glass transition | 144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature |
| Values for | Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values | 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) |
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 Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (3.25x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.4 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Plastic Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic Polycarbonate | Plastic UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2.82x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 48% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 19% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.52x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.7x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 40% 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 Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.