Comparison

Polypropylene vs Polycarbonate

A side-by-side comparison of Polypropylene and Polycarbonate.

Property

Polypropylene

Polycarbonate

Physical

Density

0.90 g/cm³

1.20 g/cm³

Water Absorption (24h)

0.01 %

0.15 %

Transparency

Translucent

Transparent (88% light transmission)

Shrinkage

1.0 – 2.5 %

0.5 – 0.8 %

Mechanical

Young's Modulus

1.5 GPa

2.3 – 2.4 GPa

Tensile Strength

30 – 40 MPa

60 – 70 MPa

Impact Strength (Izod)

40 J/m

600 – 900 J/m

Elongation at Break

100 – 600 %

100 – 150 %

Flexural Strength

—

90 – 100 MPa

Hardness (Rockwell M)

—

Thermal

Melting Point

160 °C

—

Continuous Service Temperature

100 °C

115 – 130 °C

Heat Deflection Temperature

100 °C

130 – 140 °C

Glass Transition Temperature

—

147 °C

Thermal Conductivity

—

0.20 W/m·K

CTE

—

65 – 70 × 10⁻⁶ /K

Electrical

Dielectric Constant

2.2

2.9 – 3.0

Volume Resistivity

10¹⁷ Ω·cm

10¹⁶ Ω·cm

Dielectric Strength

—

15 kV/mm

Chemical resistance

Acids

Excellent

—

Bases

Excellent

Poor

Solvents

Good

—

UV Resistance

Poor unless stabilized

Poor (unless coated)

Acids (dilute)

—

Good

Alcohols

—

Fair

Oils

—

Good

Gasoline

—

Fair

Acetone

—

Poor (attacks)

Sustainability

Recyclability

Recyclable

Recycling Code

Carbon Footprint

~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg

~5 kg CO₂e / kg

Bio-based Content

—

0 – 50 % (bio grades)