Provenance-first data

Materials Database

Every value carries its source, test method, and conditions. Select up to four materials to compare here, browse the head-to-head comparisons — or contribute a material.

Selection chart

The classic Ashby picture: stiffness against density. Up and to the left is light and stiff — notice where the fibers and laminae sit relative to the neat polymers.

1101001.01.52.02.5Polypropylene (PP) — E 1.4 GPa · ρ 0.905 g/cm³Polyamide 6 (PA6, Nylon 6) — E 2.8 GPa · ρ 1.13 g/cm³Polycarbonate (PC) — E 2.4 GPa · ρ 1.2 g/cm³PEEK — E 3.6 GPa · ρ 1.3 g/cm³Polyethylene, high-density (HDPE) — E 1 GPa · ρ 0.95 g/cm³PVC, rigid (uPVC) — E 3 GPa · ρ 1.4 g/cm³Polystyrene (GPPS) — E 3.2 GPa · ρ 1.05 g/cm³Acrylic (PMMA) — E 3.1 GPa · ρ 1.19 g/cm³ABS — E 2.3 GPa · ρ 1.05 g/cm³PET — E 2.9 GPa · ρ 1.37 g/cm³Polyamide 66 (PA66, Nylon 66) — E 3.2 GPa · ρ 1.14 g/cm³PTFE (Teflon) — E 0.5 GPa · ρ 2.17 g/cm³PEI (Ultem) — E 3.2 GPa · ρ 1.27 g/cm³Epoxy (DGEBA, amine-cured) — E 3.45 GPa · ρ 1.2 g/cm³Polyester (unsaturated, cast) — E 3.2 GPa · ρ 1.2 g/cm³Vinyl ester — E 3.2 GPa · ρ 1.12 g/cm³Phenolic (phenol-formaldehyde) — E 3.5 GPa · ρ 1.28 g/cm³E-glass fiber — E 72.4 GPa · ρ 2.54 g/cm³Carbon fiber (T300) — E 230 GPa · ρ 1.76 g/cm³Aramid fiber (Kevlar 49) — E 131 GPa · ρ 1.44 g/cm³S-2 glass fiber — E 86.9 GPa · ρ 2.46 g/cm³Carbon fiber (AS4) — E 231 GPa · ρ 1.79 g/cm³Carbon fiber (IM7) — E 276 GPa · ρ 1.78 g/cm³Basalt fiber — E 89 GPa · ρ 2.67 g/cm³Flax fiber (natural) — E 58 GPa · ρ 1.5 g/cm³E-glass/epoxy UD lamina — E 39 GPa · ρ 2.1 g/cm³T300/5208 carbon/epoxy UD lamina — E 181 GPa · ρ 1.6 g/cm³AS4/3501-6 carbon/epoxy UD lamina — E 142 GPa · ρ 1.6 g/cm³Kevlar 49/epoxy UD lamina — E 80 GPa · ρ 1.38 g/cm³Boron/epoxy (B4/5505) UD lamina — E 204 GPa · ρ 2 g/cm³AS4/PEEK (APC-2) UD lamina — E 138 GPa · ρ 1.57 g/cm³density (g/cm³)E (GPa, log scale)
ThermoplasticsThermosetsFibersUD laminae (E₁)hover a point · click to open the material

Semi-crystalline commodity thermoplastic; low density, good chemical resistance, low Tg.

Density0.905 g/cm³
E1.4 GPa
Tensile strength34 MPa
Tg-10 °C

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Semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic; strong and tough, moisture-sensitive properties.

Density1.13 g/cm³
E2.8 GPa
Tensile strength78 MPa
Tg50 °C

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Amorphous engineering thermoplastic; outstanding impact toughness and optical clarity.

Density1.2 g/cm³
E2.4 GPa
Tensile strength65 MPa
Tg147 °C

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Semi-crystalline high-performance thermoplastic; excellent thermal and chemical resistance.

Density1.3 g/cm³
E3.6 GPa
Tensile strength100 MPa
Tg143 °C

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Semi-crystalline commodity thermoplastic; tough, cheap, chemically inert — pipes, containers, cutting boards.

Density0.95 g/cm³
E1 GPa
Tensile strength27 MPa
Tg-120 °C

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Amorphous commodity thermoplastic; stiff, flame-resistant, economical — window frames, pipes, ducting.

Density1.4 g/cm³
E3 GPa
Tensile strength48 MPa
Tg82 °C

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Amorphous commodity thermoplastic; stiff, optically clear, brittle — cutlery, CD cases, foam insulation (as EPS).

Density1.05 g/cm³
E3.2 GPa
Tensile strength46 MPa
Tg100 °C

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Amorphous thermoplastic; the clearest common plastic — aircraft windows, aquariums, light guides.

Density1.19 g/cm³
E3.1 GPa
Tensile strength72 MPa
Tg105 °C

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Amorphous terpolymer; balanced stiffness and impact toughness — LEGO bricks, appliance housings, FDM printing.

Density1.05 g/cm³
E2.3 GPa
Tensile strength44 MPa
Tg105 °C

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Semi-crystalline polyester; drink bottles and textile fiber, crystallinity set by processing.

Density1.37 g/cm³
E2.9 GPa
Tensile strength60 MPa
Tg76 °C

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Semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic; higher melting than PA6, same moisture sensitivity — gears, cable ties, under-hood parts.

Density1.14 g/cm³
E3.2 GPa
Tensile strength83 MPa
Tg60 °C

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Semi-crystalline fluoropolymer; lowest friction of any solid plastic, chemically inert, but soft and creep-prone.

Density2.17 g/cm³
E0.5 GPa
Tensile strength24 MPa
Tm327 °C

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Amorphous high-performance thermoplastic; strength and flame resistance at elevated temperature — aircraft interiors, sterilizable medical parts.

Density1.27 g/cm³
E3.2 GPa
Tensile strength105 MPa
Tg217 °C

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Standard structural thermoset matrix; good adhesion and dimensional stability. Properties vary with cure.

Density1.2 g/cm³
E3.45 GPa
Tensile strength70 MPa
Tg120 °C

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Economical thermoset matrix for glass-fiber boats, tanks, and panels; cures at room temperature with styrene.

Density1.2 g/cm³
E3.2 GPa
Tensile strength55 MPa
Tg75 °C

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Between polyester and epoxy in cost and performance; excellent corrosion resistance — chemical tanks, marine hulls.

Density1.12 g/cm³
E3.2 GPa
Tensile strength86 MPa
Tg120 °C

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The original synthetic plastic (Bakelite); chars instead of burning — aircraft interiors, brake pads, ablatives.

Density1.28 g/cm³
E3.5 GPa
Tensile strength50 MPa
Tg175 °C

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Standard reinforcement glass fiber; isotropic, economical, moderate stiffness.

Density2.54 g/cm³
E72.4 GPa
Tensile strength3450 MPa

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Standard-modulus PAN carbon fiber; transversely isotropic (axial values listed).

Density1.76 g/cm³
E230 GPa
Tensile strength3530 MPa

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High-stiffness aramid; excellent specific strength and damage tolerance, weak in compression.

Density1.44 g/cm³
E131 GPa
Tensile strength3620 MPa

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High-strength glass fiber; ~40% stronger and stiffer than E-glass — ballistic panels, pressure vessels, aerospace.

Density2.46 g/cm³
E86.9 GPa
Tensile strength4890 MPa

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Aerospace-workhorse standard-modulus PAN carbon fiber; the fiber in AS4/3501-6 and APC-2 laminae.

Density1.79 g/cm³
E231 GPa
Tensile strength4447 MPa

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Intermediate-modulus PAN carbon fiber; higher stiffness and strength than AS4 — primary aircraft structure.

Density1.78 g/cm³
E276 GPa
Tensile strength5516 MPa

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Fiber melt-spun from volcanic rock; between E-glass and S-glass in properties, good thermal resistance.

Density2.67 g/cm³
E89 GPa
Tensile strength2900 MPa

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Plant bast fiber; best stiffness-to-weight of common natural fibers, renewable and vibration-damping — sporting goods, interior panels.

Density1.5 g/cm³
E58 GPa
Tensile strength800 MPa

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Unidirectional lamina, Vf ≈ 0.55. Use with the laminate calculator.

Density2.1 g/cm³
E₁39 GPa
E₂8.6 GPa
G₁₂3.8 GPa

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Classic aerospace unidirectional lamina, Vf ≈ 0.70. Reference material for CLT examples.

Density1.6 g/cm³
E₁181 GPa
E₂10.3 GPa
G₁₂7.17 GPa

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Widely characterized aerospace unidirectional lamina, Vf ≈ 0.63. Reference dataset in Daniel & Ishai.

Density1.6 g/cm³
E₁142 GPa
E₂10.3 GPa
G₁₂7.2 GPa

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Aramid unidirectional lamina, Vf ≈ 0.60. Note the very low compressive strengths — aramid's known weakness.

Density1.38 g/cm³
E₁80 GPa
E₂5.5 GPa
G₁₂2.2 GPa

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Classic boron-fiber lamina, Vf ≈ 0.50; enormous compressive strength from the thick stiff fibers — repair patches, historic aircraft parts.

Density2 g/cm³
E₁204 GPa
E₂18.5 GPa
G₁₂5.59 GPa

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Thermoplastic-matrix carbon lamina, Vf ≈ 0.61; tough, weldable, recyclable — the reference thermoplastic composite.

Density1.57 g/cm³
E₁138 GPa
E₂10.2 GPa
G₁₂5.7 GPa

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