Thermoplastic comparison
Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) vs UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene)
Every value below is a typical room-temperature figure with its source, test method and conditions — the same dataset that drives the calculators.
Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) in fullUHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) in full← All materials
| Property | Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ | 0.94 g/cm³ | Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) — 7% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 1.4 GPa | 0.8 GPa | Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) — 75% higher |
| Tensile strength | 50 MPa | 49 MPa | Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) — 2% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 45 °C | -120 °C | Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) — 165 °C higher |
| Melting point Tm | 178 °C | 130 °C | Polyamide 12 (PA12, Nylon 12) — 48 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- CAMPUS plastics database — typical grade datasheet values (campusplastics.com)
- MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values
- 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.