Thermoplastic comparison
Polycarbonate (PC) 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.
| Property | Polycarbonate (PC) | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.2 g/cm³ | 0.94 g/cm³ | Polycarbonate (PC) — 28% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 2.4 GPa | 0.8 GPa | Polycarbonate (PC) — 3.0× higher |
| Tensile strength | 65 MPa | 49 MPa | Polycarbonate (PC) — 33% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 147 °C | -120 °C | Polycarbonate (PC) — 267 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed.
- MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values
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.