Materials / Compare

PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Plastic PPS GF40

Compare PCB Laminate FR-4 vs. Plastic PPS GF40 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

PCB Laminate FR-4Composite
Plastic PPS GF40Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
MechanicalPCB Laminate FR-4Plastic PPS GF40
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength246–385MPa1tensile strength195MPa2
Flexural strength531–621MPa1285MPa2
Elongation at breaknot sourcedstrain at break1.9%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)21.9–25.8GPa114.7GPa2
Density1,920kg/m³31,650kg/m³216% lighter
Strength to weight164kN·m/kg39% higher118kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight12.4MN·m/kg39% higher8.91MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.171–0.17710.354
Shear modulus10.2GPa1.87x stiffer in shear5.44GPa
Bulk modulus12.2GPa16.3GPa34% higher
Speed of sound3,525m/s18% faster2,985m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30PCB Laminate FR-4Plastic PPS GF40
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30PCB Laminate FR-4Plastic PPS GF40
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalPCB Laminate FR-4Plastic PPS GF40
Thermal conductivity0.4W/m·K12x more heat through a fin0.2W/m·K4
Thermal expansion13–14µm/m·K1parallel12µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing67.5µm growth60µm growth12% less
Specific heat1,200–1,400J/kg·K3not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.16mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance324W/m2.25x more resistant144W/m
Melting pointnot sourcedDSC280°C2
Glass transition180°C190 °C higherDSC90°C2
Max service temperature130°C1HDT 1.8 MPa270°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30PCB Laminate FR-4Plastic PPS GF40
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30PCB Laminate FR-4Plastic PPS GF40
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Isola, Celanese, Park Electrochemical (Nelco)
PCB Laminate FR-4
Isola 370HR FR-4 laminate (Polyclad PCL-FR-370HR, 180 C Tg multifunctional epoxy, E-glass fabric), copper removed; Isola data sheet Revision C, last updated April 15, 2021. Woven-glass laminate: the sheet gives in-plane values per weave direction (length / cross) and the Z-axis CTE separately; the solver is isotropic per material.
Plastic PPS GF40
Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).
  1. 1
    370HR Laminate and Prepreg Data SheetIsolaarchived copyPCB Laminate FR-4 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Flexural strength: typical: cross direction .. length direction (IPC-TM-650 2.4.4B)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Poisson's ratio: typical, in-plane: cross direction .. length directionPCB Laminate FR-4 · Thermal conductivity: typical (ASTM E1952); direction not stated by the sheetPCB Laminate FR-4 · Thermal expansion: typical, in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Glass transition: typical, DSC (IPC-TM-650 2.4.25C)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Max service temperature: UL Relative Thermal Index (UL 796)
  2. 2
    Fortron PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012)CelanesePlastic PPS GF40 · Ultimate tensile strength: tensile strength, 5 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Flexural strength: flexural strength at breakPlastic PPS GF40 · Elongation at break: strain at break, 5 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 1 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Density: typicalPlastic PPS GF40 · Thermal expansion: parallel (flow), mean -50 to 90 °CPlastic PPS GF40 · Melting point: DSC, 10 °C/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Glass transition: DSC, 10 °C/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
  3. 3
    N4000-6 Laminate Data Sheet (2006)Park Electrochemical (Nelco)archived copyPCB Laminate FR-4 · Density: typical, 50% resin content; another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HRPCB Laminate FR-4 · Specific heat: typical (ASTM E1461); another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR
  4. 4
    Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050)CelanesePlastic PPS GF40 · Poisson's ratio: glass-reinforced Fortron PPS (class value, not grade-specific)Plastic PPS GF40 · Thermal conductivity: 40% glass-reinforced Fortron, 25 °C (not grade-specific)

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 PCB Laminate FR-4 stronger than Plastic PPS GF40?

PCB Laminate FR-4 is stronger: its tensile strength is 315 MPa against 195 MPa for Plastic PPS GF40 (1.62x).

Which is lighter, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter: 1,650 kg/m³ against 1,920 kg/m³ for PCB Laminate FR-4.

Which is stiffer, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic PPS GF40?

PCB Laminate FR-4 is stiffer: Young's modulus 23.9 GPa against 14.7 GPa for Plastic PPS GF40, so the same part in PCB Laminate FR-4 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic PPS GF40?

For the same stiffness or strength: PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePCB Laminate FR-4Plastic PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter39% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter9% heavier
Stiff panel or plateabout equalabout equal
Strong rod or tielighter39% heavier
Strong beamlighter18% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter9% 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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, PCB Laminate FR-4 or Plastic PPS GF40?

PCB Laminate FR-4 conducts heat better: 0.4 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic PPS GF40 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 13.5 µm/m·K for PCB Laminate FR-4.

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