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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Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroPlastic Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typical, tensile yieldPlastic Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, stress at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typical, flexural strengthPlastic Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typical, strain at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Density: typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: typical, through-plane, 23 CPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: typical, 23-55 C, parallel and normalPlastic Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typical, DSC 10 C/minPlastic Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: UL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
3
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroPlastic Nylon PA6 · Poisson's ratio: base material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
4
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: typical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
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Makrolon 2405 Data Sheet, ASTM valuesBayer MaterialSciencearchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Specific heat: typical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766
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 Nylon PA6 stronger than Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (38%).
Which is lighter, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 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 Nylon PA6
Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
1.55x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
28% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
20% heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
47% heavier
Strong beam
lighter
32% heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
25% 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 Nylon PA6 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 125% elongation at break against 10% for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Thermal
Which handles higher temperatures, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Polycarbonate does: 125 °C against 87 °C for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which conducts heat better, Plastic Nylon PA6 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Nylon PA6 conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic Polycarbonate expands less: 65 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.