Plastic LCP GF30 vs. Plastic PLA

Compare Plastic LCP GF30 vs. Plastic PLA strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic LCP GF30Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Plastic LCP GF30	Plastic PLA
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	52.5MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	tensile strength115MPa22.19x stronger	52.5MPa1
Flexural strength	184MPa21.9x stronger in bending	96.8MPa1
Elongation at break	tensile elongation1.5%2	7.8%15.2x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	tensile modulus11.5GPa23.54x stiffer	3.25GPa1
Density	1,610kg/m³2	1,240kg/m³130% lighter
Strength to weight	71.4kN·m/kg1.69x higher	42.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	7.14MN·m/kg2.73x higher	2.62MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	2,673m/s1.65x faster	1,619m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Plastic LCP GF30	Plastic PLA
Thermal conductivity	hot disk0.5W/m·K23.85x more heat through a fin	base material0.13W/m·K3
Thermal expansion	flow direction20µm/m·K2	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	100µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	ASTM E1269839J/kg·K2	base material1,200J/kg·K343% higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.37mm²/s4.24x faster	0.0874mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	152°C1
Glass transition	not sourced	59.1°C1
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa288°C2	HDT 0.455 MPa58.8°C1

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources3 documents: UltiMaker, Sumitomo Chemical, NatureWorks

Plastic LCP GF30: Sumitomo Chemical SUMIKASUPER LCP E6006L (30% glass fibre; high strength, low shrinkage); SUMIKASUPER LCP Technical Note, Version 04 / Nov. 2023, typical values.
Plastic PLA: Ultimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated April 20, 2022.

1
Ultimaker PLA Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic PLA · Yield strength: typicalPlastic PLA · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic PLA · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic PLA · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic PLA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic PLA · Density: typicalPlastic PLA · Melting point: typicalPlastic PLA · Glass transition: typicalPlastic PLA · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
2
SUMIKASUPER LCP Technical Note, Version 04 (2023)Sumitomo Chemicalarchived copyPlastic LCP GF30 · Ultimate tensile strength: tensile strength (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Flexural strength: typical (ISO 178)Plastic LCP GF30 · Elongation at break: tensile elongation (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Young's modulus (stiffness): tensile modulus (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Density: typicalPlastic LCP GF30 · Thermal conductivity: hot disk (ISO 22007-2), temperature not statedPlastic LCP GF30 · Thermal expansion: flow direction (MD), mean 50-150 °CPlastic LCP GF30 · Specific heat: ASTM E1269, temperature not statedPlastic LCP GF30 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa (ISO 75)
3
Engineering Properties of Ingeo BiopolymerNatureWorksarchived copyPlastic PLA · Thermal conductivity: base material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °CPlastic PLA · Specific heat: base material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C

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.

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

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic LCP GF30 stronger than Plastic PLA?

Plastic LCP GF30 is stronger: its tensile strength is 115 MPa against yield strength 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (2.19x).

Which is lighter, Plastic LCP GF30 or Plastic PLA?

Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 1,610 kg/m³ for Plastic LCP GF30.

Which is stiffer, Plastic LCP GF30 or Plastic PLA?

Plastic LCP GF30 is stiffer: Young's modulus 11.5 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, so the same part in Plastic LCP GF30 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic LCP GF30 or Plastic PLA?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic LCP GF30 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	Plastic LCP GF30	Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	2.73x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	45% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	17% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.69x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	30% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	14% 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, Plastic LCP GF30 or Plastic PLA?

Plastic PLA stretches further before it breaks: 7.8% elongation at break against 1.5% for Plastic LCP GF30.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Plastic LCP GF30 or Plastic PLA?

Plastic LCP GF30 conducts heat better: 0.5 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.