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Plastic PTFE vs. Plastic TPU

Compare Plastic PTFE vs. Plastic TPU strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PTFEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic TPU3D printed (FDM)
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Mechanical
Yield strength9MPasourcetypical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8)not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength39.3MPasourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm23.7MPasourcetypical, stress at break
Flexural strengthnot sourced4.1MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break350%sourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mmnot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced0.067GPasourcetypical
Density2,160kg/m³sourcetypical (standard specific gravity, ASTM D4894)1,220kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight4.17kN·m/kg19.4kN·m/kg4.66x higher
Stiffness to weightnot sourced0.0549MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.46sourcetypical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook)not sourced
Shear modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Bulk modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Speed of soundnot sourced234m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.25W/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimennot sourced
Thermal expansion100µm/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228)not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing500µm growthnot sourced
Specific heat1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591)not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.0827mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Melting point327°Csourcesecond melting peak (sintered polymer), +/-10217°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature260°Csourceservice temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement)50.3°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values forChemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape)Ultimaker TPU 95A, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 29, 2022.

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.

Plastic TPU is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Plastic PTFE stronger than Plastic TPU?

Plastic TPU is stronger: its tensile strength is 23.7 MPa against yield strength 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (2.63x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PTFE or Plastic TPU?

Plastic TPU is lighter: 1,220 kg/m³ against 2,160 kg/m³ for Plastic PTFE.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PTFE or Plastic TPU?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic TPU is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePlastic PTFEPlastic TPU
Strong rod or tie4.66x heavierlighter
Strong beam3.38x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.87x heavierlighter

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).

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel 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 PolycarbonatePlastic 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 TPU
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel 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 PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic 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 PTFEPlastic TPU
Strength against density

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