Comparison
Melamine-Formaldehyde Hard vs PLA
A side-by-side comparison of Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin and Polylactic Acid.
Physical
Density
1.50-1.60 g/cm³
1.24 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
0.5-1.5 %
0.5 %
Transparency
White to Light Color
Semi-transparent
Shrinkage
4-7 %
0.3 – 0.5 %
Mechanical
Young's Modulus
8-15 GPa
3.5 GPa
Tensile Strength
60-90 MPa
50 – 65 MPa
Elongation at Break
0.5-1.5 %
6 %
Impact Strength (Izod)
4-10 J/m
16 J/m
Flexural Strength
—
80 MPa
Thermal
Glass Transition Temperature
Undetermined (Degradation)
60 °C
Melting Point
N/A
150 – 160 °C
Continuous Service Temperature
80-130 °C
45 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
70-120 °C
55 °C
Electrical
Dielectric Constant
5.0-6.5
3.0
Volume Resistivity
10^11-10^14 Ohm-cm
10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Dielectric Strength
12-20 kV/mm
—
Chemical resistance
Acids
Moderate resistance
Fair
Bases
Moderate resistance
Poor
Solvents
Resistant to alcohols and hydrocarbons
—
UV Resistance
Moderate
Poor
Alcohols
—
Fair
Hydrolysis
—
Poor
Sustainability
Recyclability
Difficult
Industrially compostable
Recycling Code
N/A
7
Carbon Footprint
Moderate
~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg
Bio-based Content
—
100 %