Materials / Compare

Plastic PTFE vs. Zinc Zamak 3

Compare Plastic PTFE vs. Zinc Zamak 3 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PTFEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
Zinc Zamak 3Cast
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Mechanical
Yield strength9MPasourcetypical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8)221MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength39.3MPasourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm283MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break350%sourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm10%sourcetypical, in 2 in.
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced85.5GPasourcetypical
Density2,160kg/m³sourcetypical (standard specific gravity, ASTM D4894)6,600kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight4.17kN·m/kg33.5kN·m/kg8.04x higher
Stiffness to weightnot sourced13MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.46sourcetypical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook)0.27sourcetypical, Zamak 3 hot-chamber die cast
Shear modulusnot sourced33.7GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced62GPa
Speed of soundnot sourced3,599m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.25W/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimen113W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion100µm/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228)27.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing500µm growth137µm growth3.65x less
Specific heat1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591)419J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.0827mm²/s40.9mm²/s495x faster
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced7,782W/m
Melting point327°Csourcesecond melting peak (sintered polymer), +/-10381–387°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature260°Csourceservice temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement)not sourced
Values forChemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape)Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 die cast), Nathan Trotter (zinc alloy producer) technical data sheet, typical values

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 PTFE stronger than Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 is stronger: its yield strength is 221 MPa against 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (24.6x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PTFE or Zinc Zamak 3?

Plastic PTFE is lighter: 2,160 kg/m³ against 6,600 kg/m³ for Zinc Zamak 3.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PTFE or Zinc Zamak 3?

For the same stiffness or strength: Zinc Zamak 3 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePlastic PTFEZinc Zamak 3
Strong rod or tie8.04x heavierlighter
Strong beam2.76x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1.62x 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).

Which conducts heat better, Plastic PTFE or Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 conducts heat better: 113 W/m·K against 0.25 W/m·K for Plastic PTFE.

Which expands less with temperature?

Zinc Zamak 3 expands less: 27.4 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic PTFE.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic 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-H24Plastic 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 SteelZinc Zamak 3
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic 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-H24Plastic 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 PTFEZinc Zamak 3
Strength against density

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