Comparison
Carbon Fiber PA12 vs PLA
A side-by-side comparison of Polyamide 12, Carbon Fiber Reinforced and Polylactic Acid.
Physical
Density
1.10-1.20 g/cm³
1.24 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
0.3-0.5 %
0.5 %
Transparency
Opaque
Semi-transparent
Shrinkage
0.2-0.4 %
0.3 – 0.5 %
Mechanical
Young's Modulus
12-20 GPa
3.5 GPa
Tensile Strength
100-130 MPa
50 – 65 MPa
Elongation at Break
5-10 %
6 %
Impact Strength (Izod)
10-20 kJ/m
16 J/m
Flexural Strength
—
80 MPa
Thermal
Glass Transition Temperature
40-50 °C
60 °C
Melting Point
175-185 °C
150 – 160 °C
Continuous Service Temperature
100-120 °C
45 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
140-180 °C (1.8 MPa)
55 °C
Electrical
Dielectric Constant
N/A (conductive)
3.0
Volume Resistivity
10^2-10^6 Ohm-cm
10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Dielectric Strength
Low (conductive)
—
Chemical resistance
Acids
Fair
Fair
Bases
Good
Poor
Solvents
Good
—
UV Resistance
Fair
Poor
Alcohols
—
Fair
Hydrolysis
—
Poor
Sustainability
Recyclability
Recyclable (complex)
Industrially compostable
Recycling Code
7 (Other)
7
Carbon Footprint
High
~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg
Bio-based Content
—
100 %