Comparison
General Purpose Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene TPE vs Polycarbonate
A side-by-side comparison of Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) block copolymer and Polycarbonate.
Physical
Density
0.91 - 0.95 g/cm³
1.20 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
0.3 %
0.15 %
Transparency
Opaque
Transparent (88% light transmission)
Shrinkage
1.0 - 2.0 %
0.5 – 0.8 %
Mechanical
Young's Modulus
0.001 - 0.02 GPa
2.3 – 2.4 GPa
Tensile Strength
2 - 7 MPa
60 – 70 MPa
Elongation at Break
500 - 900 %
100 – 150 %
Impact Strength (Izod)
Poor to Fair
600 – 900 J/m
Flexural Strength
—
90 – 100 MPa
Hardness (Rockwell M)
—
70
Thermal
Glass Transition Temperature
-55 to -50 °C
147 °C
Melting Point
N/A (softening point around 80-100 °C)
—
Continuous Service Temperature
-40 to 70 °C
115 – 130 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
N/A
130 – 140 °C
Thermal Conductivity
—
0.20 W/m·K
CTE
—
65 – 70 × 10⁻⁶ /K
Electrical
Dielectric Constant
2.6 - 3.0
2.9 – 3.0
Volume Resistivity
10^14 - 10^16 Ohm-cm
10¹⁶ Ω·cm
Dielectric Strength
15 - 25 kV/mm
15 kV/mm
Chemical resistance
Acids
Good
—
Bases
Good
Poor
Solvents
Resists water, dilute acids/bases; dissolves in aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons
—
UV Resistance
Poor
Poor (unless coated)
Acids (dilute)
—
Good
Alcohols
—
Fair
Oils
—
Good
Gasoline
—
Fair
Acetone
—
Poor (attacks)
Sustainability
Recyclability
Limited (often blended)
Recyclable
Recycling Code
7 (Other)
7
Carbon Footprint
Moderate
~5 kg CO₂e / kg
Bio-based Content
—
0 – 50 % (bio grades)