Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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1/2 in. (12.7 mm) regular gypsum board (ASTM C1396), Gypsum Association GA-235-2019 typical/minimum properties; tensile and E from USDA FPL-co-authored review; service limit from USG Sheetrock 1/2 in. submittal
Plastic UHMWPE
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)
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GUR UHMW-PE Overview (GUR-015)CelanesePlastic UHMWPE · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/minPlastic UHMWPE · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/minPlastic UHMWPE · Elongation at break: typical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527Plastic UHMWPE · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/minPlastic UHMWPE · Density: typicalPlastic UHMWPE · Melting point: DSC 10 K/minPlastic UHMWPE · Max service temperature: recommended max constant operating temperature
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Mechanical Properties of Gypsum Board at Elevated TemperaturesUSDA Forest Products LaboratoryDrywall · Ultimate tensile strength: ambient range reported in review (Australian studies)Drywall · Young's modulus (stiffness): ambient range reported in review (Australian studies)
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GA-235-2023 Gypsum Board Typical Mechanical and Physical PropertiesGypsum AssociationDrywall · Compressive strength: typical, 70 F / 50% RHDrywall · Thermal expansion: typical, unrestrained, 3.3-32 CDrywall · Specific heat: typical (from ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, per GA)
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GUR UHMW-PE Polymer Guide (GUR-003)Celanesearchived copyPlastic UHMWPE · Thermal conductivity: typical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE)Plastic UHMWPE · Thermal expansion: typical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE)
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Sheetrock Brand UltraLight Panels Submittal Sheet (WB2501)USGarchived copyDrywall · Max service temperature: manufacturer sustained-exposure limit
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Drywall stronger than Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is stronger: its yield strength is 20 MPa against tensile strength 1.5 MPa for Drywall (13.3x).
Which is stiffer, Drywall or Plastic UHMWPE?
Drywall is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.5 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Drywall deflects less under the same load.
Thermal
Which handles higher temperatures, Drywall or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE does: 80 °C against 52 °C for Drywall.
Which expands less with temperature?
Drywall expands less: 16.7 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.