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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Sources3 documents: LyondellBasell, Röhm, INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA
Plastic PMMA
Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1)
Plastic Polypropylene
LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO values
1
Moplen HP501H Product DataLyondellBasellPlastic Polypropylene · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527Plastic Polypropylene · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, tensile modulus ISO 527Plastic Polypropylene · Density: typical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1Plastic Polypropylene · Max service temperature: HDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed
2
PLEXIGLAS GS and XT Technical Information (Ref. No. 211-1)Röhmarchived copyPlastic PMMA · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic PMMA · Compressive strength: compressive yield stress, typicalPlastic PMMA · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic PMMA · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic PMMA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, short-termPlastic PMMA · Density: typicalPlastic PMMA · Poisson's ratio: typicalPlastic PMMA · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic PMMA · Thermal expansion: 0-50 °CPlastic PMMA · Specific heat: typicalPlastic PMMA · Max service temperature: max. permanent service temperature
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Typical Engineering Properties of PolypropyleneINEOS Olefins & Polymers USAarchived copyPlastic Polypropylene · Poisson's ratio: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)Plastic Polypropylene · Thermal conductivity: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)Plastic Polypropylene · Thermal expansion: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
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 PMMA stronger than Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against yield strength 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (2.42x).
Which is lighter, Plastic PMMA or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for Plastic PMMA.
Which is stiffer, Plastic PMMA or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic PMMA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.3 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, so the same part in Plastic PMMA deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PMMA or Plastic Polypropylene?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PMMA 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 be
Plastic PMMA
Plastic Polypropylene
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
1.72x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
14% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
about equal
about equal
Strong rod or tie
lighter
1.83x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
36% heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
18% 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, Plastic PMMA or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene conducts heat better: 0.195 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PMMA expands less: 70 µm/m·K against 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.