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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Ultimaker PC, 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 20, 2022.
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)
1
Ultimaker PC Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)FDM Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Density: rangeFDM Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
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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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Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: base material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
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Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °CFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
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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)
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.
FDM Polycarbonate is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic UHMWPE?
FDM Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 53.3 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (2.67x).
Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
FDM Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.39 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in FDM Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM 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
FDM Polycarbonate
Plastic UHMWPE
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.83x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
49% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
20% heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
2.08x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
1.5x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
28% 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 is more ductile, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE stretches further before it breaks: 465% elongation at break against 9.2% for FDM Polycarbonate.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, FDM Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.