Comparison
Carbon Fiber PPA vs PLA
A side-by-side comparison of Polyphthalamide, Carbon Fiber Reinforced and Polylactic Acid.
Physical
Density
1.25-1.35 g/cm³
1.24 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
0.4-0.6 %
0.5 %
Transparency
Opaque
Semi-transparent
Shrinkage
0.2-0.4 %
0.3 – 0.5 %
Mechanical
Young's Modulus
15-25 GPa
3.5 GPa
Tensile Strength
120-180 MPa
50 – 65 MPa
Elongation at Break
3-7 %
6 %
Impact Strength (Izod)
8-15 kJ/m
16 J/m
Flexural Strength
—
80 MPa
Thermal
Glass Transition Temperature
100-150 °C
60 °C
Melting Point
300-320 °C
150 – 160 °C
Continuous Service Temperature
120-170 °C
45 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
250-290 °C (1.8 MPa)
55 °C
Electrical
Dielectric Constant
N/A (conductive)
3.0
Volume Resistivity
10^2-10^5 Ohm-cm
10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Dielectric Strength
Low (conductive)
—
Chemical resistance
Acids
Good
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 %