Materials / Compare
Plastic Polypropylene vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare Plastic Polypropylene 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 | 33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527 | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527 | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1 | 930kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 36.7kN·m/kg1.71x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.61MN·m/kg2.27x higher | 0.71MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 0.511GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 3.02GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 1,269m/s | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 450µm growth2.22x less | 1,000µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 28.6W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | not sourced | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Max service temperature | 90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature |
| Values for | LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO 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 Polypropylene stronger than Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Polypropylene is stronger: its yield strength is 33 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (1.65x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Polypropylene or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 930 kg/m³ for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Polypropylene or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Polypropylene is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.45 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Plastic Polypropylene deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polypropylene or Plastic UHMWPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polypropylene 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 Polypropylene | Plastic UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2.27x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.53x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 34% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.7x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 44% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 33% 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 Polypropylene or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.195 W/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic Polypropylene expands less: 90 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.