Plastic LCP GF30 vs. Plastic UHMWPE

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

Plastic LCP GF30Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Plastic UHMWPEBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Plastic LCP GF30	Plastic UHMWPE
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	20MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	tensile strength115MPa2	43MPa1
Flexural strength	184MPa2	not sourced
Elongation at break	tensile elongation1.5%2	465%1310x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	tensile modulus11.5GPa217.4x stiffer	0.66GPa1
Density	1,610kg/m³2	930kg/m³11.73x lighter
Strength to weight	71.4kN·m/kg3.32x higher	21.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	7.14MN·m/kg10.1x higher	0.71MN·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/s3.17x faster	842m/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 UHMWPE
Thermal conductivity	hot disk0.5W/m·K225% more heat through a fin	0.4W/m·K3
Thermal expansion	flow direction20µm/m·K210x less	200µm/m·K3
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	100µm growth10x less	1,000µm growth
Specific heat	ASTM E1269839J/kg·K2	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	0.37mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	DSC 10 K/min130–138°C1
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa288°C2	80°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: Celanese, Sumitomo Chemical

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 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
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
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
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.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic LCP GF30 stronger than Plastic UHMWPE?

Plastic LCP GF30 is stronger: its tensile strength is 115 MPa against yield strength 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (5.75x).

Which is lighter, Plastic LCP GF30 or Plastic UHMWPE?

Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,610 kg/m³ for Plastic LCP GF30.

Which is stiffer, Plastic LCP GF30 or Plastic UHMWPE?

Plastic LCP GF30 is stiffer: Young's modulus 11.5 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, 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 UHMWPE?

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 UHMWPE
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	10.1x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2.41x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	50% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	3.32x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	1.85x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	39% 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 UHMWPE?

Plastic UHMWPE stretches further before it breaks: 465% elongation at break against 1.5% for Plastic LCP GF30.

Thermal

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

Plastic LCP GF30 conducts heat better: 0.5 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic LCP GF30 expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.