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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Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, 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)
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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
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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
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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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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)
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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 Polycarbonate stronger than Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Polycarbonate is stronger: its yield strength is 65 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (3.25x).
Which is lighter, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Polycarbonate is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.4 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Plastic Polycarbonate deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Polycarbonate 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 Polycarbonate
Plastic UHMWPE
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.82x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
48% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
19% heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
2.52x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
1.7x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
40% 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 Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE stretches further before it breaks: 465% elongation at break against 125% for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Thermal
Which handles higher temperatures, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic Polycarbonate does: 125 °C against 80 °C for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which conducts heat better, Plastic Polycarbonate or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE conducts heat better: 0.4 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 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.