Materials / Compare

Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Plastic PPS GF40

Compare Plastic Polycarbonate vs. Plastic PPS GF40 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic PPS GF40Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
MechanicalPlastic PolycarbonatePlastic PPS GF40
Yield strength65MPa1not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength65MPa1tensile strength195MPa2
Flexural strength97MPa1285MPa22.94x stronger in bending
Elongation at break125%165.8x more ductilestrain at break1.9%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.4GPa114.7GPa26.13x stiffer
Density1,200kg/m³138% lighter1,650kg/m³2
Strength to weight54.2kN·m/kg118kN·m/kg2.18x higher
Stiffness to weight2MN·m/kg8.91MN·m/kg4.45x higher
Poisson's ratio0.3830.354
Shear modulus0.87GPa5.44GPa6.26x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.33GPa16.3GPa4.9x higher
Speed of sound1,414m/s2,985m/s2.11x faster
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 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 SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic 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 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 SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic PPS GF40
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalPlastic PolycarbonatePlastic PPS GF40
Thermal conductivity0.2W/m·K10.2W/m·K4
Thermal expansion65µm/m·K1parallel12µm/m·K25.42x less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing325µm growth60µm growth5.42x less
Specific heat1,172J/kg·K5not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.142mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance51.7W/m144W/m2.78x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourcedDSC280°C2
Glass transition144°C154 °C higherDSC90°C2
Max service temperatureUL 746B RTI125°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 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 SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic 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 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 SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic PPS GF40
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources5 documents: Covestro, Celanese, Bayer MaterialScience
Plastic Polycarbonate
Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values
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
    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
  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
    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)
  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)
  5. 5
    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 Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stronger: its tensile strength is 195 MPa against yield strength 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (3x).

Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 1,650 kg/m³ for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stiffer: Young's modulus 14.7 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in Plastic PPS GF40 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PPS GF40 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 bePlastic PolycarbonatePlastic PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)4.45x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.8x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate33% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie2.18x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.51x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate26% heavierlighter

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 Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 125% elongation at break against 1.9% for Plastic PPS GF40.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic Polycarbonate conducts heat better: 0.2 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 65 µm/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

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