Thermoplastic comparison
PETG (glycol-modified PET) vs Polylactic acid (PLA)
Every value below is a typical room-temperature figure with its source, test method and conditions — the same dataset that drives the calculators.
| Property | PETG (glycol-modified PET) | Polylactic acid (PLA) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.3 g/cm³ | 1.24 g/cm³ | PETG (glycol-modified PET) — 5% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 2.2 GPa | 3.5 GPa | Polylactic acid (PLA) — 59% higher |
| Tensile strength | 53 MPa | 50 MPa | PETG (glycol-modified PET) — 6% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 81 °C | 58 °C | PETG (glycol-modified PET) — 23 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values
- Farah, Anderson & Langer, Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 107 (2016) 367–392 — comprehensive PLA property review
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.