Materials / Compare

Plastic PTFE vs. Plastic TPU

Compare Plastic PTFE vs. Plastic TPU strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic PTFEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
Plastic TPU3D printed (FDM)
MechanicalPlastic PTFEPlastic TPU
Yield strength9MPa1not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength39.3MPa223.7MPa3
Flexural strengthnot sourced4.1MPa3
Elongation at break350%2not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced0.067GPa3
Density2,160kg/m³21,220kg/m³31.77x lighter
Strength to weight4.17kN·m/kg19.4kN·m/kg4.66x higher
Stiffness to weightnot sourced0.0549MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.461not sourced
Shear modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Bulk modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Speed of soundnot sourced234m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic 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 PolycarbonatePlastic 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 PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic TPU
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)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 PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic 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 PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PTFEPlastic TPU
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalPlastic PTFEPlastic TPU
Thermal conductivity0.25W/m·K1not sourced
Thermal expansion100µm/m·K1not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing500µm growthnot sourced
Specific heat1,400J/kg·K1not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.0827mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Melting pointsecond melting peak327°C2110 °C higher217°C3
Max service temperatureservice temperature260°C4HDT 0.455 MPa50.3°C3
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 PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic 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 PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PTFE
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 PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic 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 PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Plastic PTFE
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Sources4 documents: Chemours, UltiMaker
Plastic PTFE
Chemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape)
Plastic TPU
Ultimaker TPU 95A, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 29, 2022.
  1. 1
    Teflon PTFE Fluoropolymer Resin Properties HandbookChemoursarchived copyPlastic PTFE · Yield strength: typical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8)Plastic PTFE · Poisson's ratio: typical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook)Plastic PTFE · Thermal conductivity: typical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimenPlastic PTFE · Thermal expansion: typical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228)Plastic PTFE · Specific heat: typical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591)
  2. 2
    Teflon PTFE 7C X Product InformationChemoursarchived copyPlastic PTFE · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, skived tape 0.13 mmPlastic PTFE · Elongation at break: typical, skived tape 0.13 mmPlastic PTFE · Density: typical (standard specific gravity, ASTM D4894)Plastic PTFE · Melting point: second melting peak (sintered polymer), +/-10
  3. 3
    Ultimaker TPU 95A Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic TPU · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, stress at breakPlastic TPU · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic TPU · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic TPU · Density: typicalPlastic TPU · Melting point: typicalPlastic TPU · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
  4. 4
    Teflon PTFE 6C X Product InformationChemoursarchived copyPlastic PTFE · Max service temperature: service temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement)

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.

Plastic TPU is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Plastic PTFE stronger than Plastic TPU?

Plastic TPU is stronger: its tensile strength is 23.7 MPa against yield strength 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (2.63x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PTFE or Plastic TPU?

Plastic TPU is lighter: 1,220 kg/m³ against 2,160 kg/m³ for Plastic PTFE.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PTFE or Plastic TPU?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic TPU is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must bePlastic PTFEPlastic TPU
Strong rod or tie4.66x heavierlighter
Strong beam3.38x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.87x 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).

Related comparisons