Comparison
High Temperature Novolac Epoxy vs PLA
A side-by-side comparison of Epoxy Novolac Resin and Polylactic Acid.
Physical
Density
1.20-1.30 g/cm³
1.24 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
0.1-0.3 %
0.5 %
Transparency
Amber to Brown
Semi-transparent
Shrinkage
2-3 %
0.3 – 0.5 %
Mechanical
Young's Modulus
3.0-4.5 GPa
3.5 GPa
Tensile Strength
60-95 MPa
50 – 65 MPa
Elongation at Break
2-5 %
6 %
Impact Strength (Izod)
8-20 J/m
16 J/m
Flexural Strength
—
80 MPa
Thermal
Glass Transition Temperature
120-200 °C
60 °C
Melting Point
N/A
150 – 160 °C
Continuous Service Temperature
150-200 °C
45 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
120-180 °C
55 °C
Electrical
Dielectric Constant
3.5-4.5
3.0
Volume Resistivity
10^13-10^15 Ohm-cm
10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Dielectric Strength
18-28 kV/mm
—
Chemical resistance
Acids
Excellent resistance
Fair
Bases
Good resistance
Poor
Solvents
Resistant to many solvents
—
UV Resistance
Moderate without additives
Poor
Alcohols
—
Fair
Hydrolysis
—
Poor
Sustainability
Recyclability
Difficult
Industrially compostable
Recycling Code
N/A
7
Carbon Footprint
Moderate to High
~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg
Bio-based Content
—
100 %