Thermoplastic comparison
Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) vs Polycarbonate (PC)
Every value below is a typical room-temperature figure with its source, test method and conditions — the same dataset that drives the calculators.
| Property | Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) | Polycarbonate (PC) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ | 1.2 g/cm³ | Polycarbonate (PC) — 19% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 1.4 GPa | 2.4 GPa | Polycarbonate (PC) — 71% higher |
| Tensile strength | 50 MPa | 65 MPa | Polycarbonate (PC) — 30% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 45 °C | 147 °C | Polycarbonate (PC) — 102 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- CAMPUS plastics database — typical grade datasheet values (campusplastics.com)
- Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed.
Typical room-temperature values for learning and preliminary design; grades vary widely and a supplier datasheet always overrides a textbook figure. Confirm against the datasheet before design work.