Comparison
PETG vs PLA
A side-by-side comparison of Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol and Polylactic Acid.
Physical
Density
1.27 g/cm³
1.24 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
0.13 %
0.5 %
Transparency
Transparent
Semi-transparent
Shrinkage
0.2 – 0.5 %
0.3 – 0.5 %
Mechanical
Young's Modulus
2.1 GPa
3.5 GPa
Tensile Strength
50 MPa
50 – 65 MPa
Flexural Strength
70 MPa
80 MPa
Impact Strength (Izod)
100 J/m
16 J/m
Elongation at Break
120 %
6 %
Thermal
Glass Transition Temperature
80 °C
60 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
70 °C
55 °C
Continuous Service Temperature
65 °C
45 °C
CTE
68 × 10⁻⁶ /K
—
Melting Point
—
150 – 160 °C
Electrical
Dielectric Constant
3.3
3.0
Volume Resistivity
10¹⁴ Ω·cm
10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Chemical resistance
Acids
Good
Fair
Bases
Fair
Poor
Alcohols
Good
Fair
Oils
Good
—
UV Resistance
Fair
Poor
Hydrolysis
—
Poor
Sustainability
Recyclability
Recyclable
Industrially compostable
Recycling Code
1
7
Bio-based Content
0 %
100 %
Carbon Footprint
~2.7 kg CO₂e / kg
~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg