Comparator

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Add up to four polymers to see their properties in a single table. Rows with no data are hidden. Share the URL to send the same comparison to a colleague.

Physical

Property

Density

0.95 g/cm³

0.90 g/cm³

1.27 g/cm³

1.04 – 1.07 g/cm³

Shrinkage

1.5 – 3.0 %

1.0 – 2.5 %

0.2 – 0.5 %

0.4 – 0.9 %

Specific Gravity

—

1.05

Surface Finish

—

Matte to glossy

Transparency

Translucent to opaque

Translucent

Transparent

Opaque

Water Absorption (24h)

< 0.01 %

0.01 %

0.13 %

0.20 – 0.45 %

Mechanical

Property

Elongation at Break

500 – 1000 %

100 – 600 %

120 %

10 – 50 %

Flexural Strength

—

70 MPa

60 – 80 MPa

Hardness (Rockwell R)

—

100 – 115

Impact Strength

No break

—

Impact Strength (Izod)

—

40 J/m

100 J/m

200 – 400 J/m

Tensile Strength

25 – 35 MPa

30 – 40 MPa

50 MPa

40 – 50 MPa

Young's Modulus

1.1 GPa

1.5 GPa

2.1 GPa

1.8 – 2.5 GPa

Thermal

Property

CTE

—

68 × 10⁻⁶ /K

80 – 100 × 10⁻⁶ /K

Continuous Service Temperature

80 °C

100 °C

65 °C

70 – 90 °C

Glass Transition Temperature

—

80 °C

105 °C

Heat Deflection Temperature

75 °C

100 °C

70 °C

85 – 100 °C

Melting Point

130 °C

160 °C

—

Amorphous (no true Tm)

Thermal Conductivity

—

0.17 W/m·K

Electrical

Property

Dielectric Constant

2.3

2.2

3.3

2.7 – 3.2

Dielectric Strength

—

15 – 20 kV/mm

Surface Resistivity

—

10¹⁵ Ω

Volume Resistivity

10¹⁶ Ω·cm

10¹⁷ Ω·cm

10¹⁴ Ω·cm

10¹⁶ Ω·cm

Chemical resistance

Property

Acetone

—

Attacks / dissolves

Acids

Excellent

Good

—

Acids (dilute)

—

Good

Alcohols

Excellent

—

Good

Bases

Excellent

Fair

Good

Gasoline

—

Poor

Oils

Good

—

Good

—

Oils & Greases

—

Fair

Solvents

—

Good

—

UV Resistance

Poor unless stabilized

Fair

Poor (unless stabilized)

Weathering

—

Poor without stabilizers

Sustainability

Property

Bio-based Content

0 – 100 %

—

0 %

Carbon Footprint

~1.9 kg CO₂e / kg

~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg

~2.7 kg CO₂e / kg

~3.1 kg CO₂e / kg

Recyclability

Widely recycled

Recyclable

Recyclable (mechanical)

Recycling Code

7 (Other)

Typical applications

HDPE

· Milk & detergent bottles
· Gas & water pipes
· Chemical tanks
· Cutting boards
· Playground equipment

Polypropylene

· Food containers
· Automotive bumpers
· Living hinges
· Medical syringes
· Carpets & textiles

PETG

· Food packaging
· Medical trays
· Retail displays
· Machine guards
· 3D printed functional parts
· Signage

ABS

· Automotive interior trim
· Consumer electronics housings
· LEGO bricks
· Appliance panels
· 3D printed prototypes
· Toys
· Luggage shells

Manufacturing

HDPE

· Blow Molding
· Injection Molding
· Extrusion
· Rotomolding
· Welding

Polypropylene

· Injection Molding
· Extrusion
· Blow Molding
· Thermoforming
· Welding

PETG

· 3D Printing (FDM)
· Injection Molding
· Extrusion
· Thermoforming
· Vacuum Forming
· Laser Cutting

ABS

· Injection Molding
· Extrusion
· Blow Molding
· Vacuum Forming
· CNC Machining
· 3D Printing (FDM)
· Bonding
· Painting

Popular comparisons

ABS vs PLA vs PETG ABS vs Polycarbonate vs Acrylic (PMMA)PA66 vs POM (Delrin) vs PEEK HDPE vs Polypropylene vs PETG vs ABS