Thermoplastic comparison
PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate, a PHA) 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.
PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate, a PHA) in fullUHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) in full← All materials
| Property | PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate, a PHA) | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.25 g/cm³ | 0.94 g/cm³ | PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate, a PHA) — 33% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 3.5 GPa | 0.8 GPa | PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate, a PHA) — 4.4× higher |
| Tensile strength | 40 MPa | 49 MPa | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) — 23% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 4 °C | -120 °C | PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate, a PHA) — 124 °C higher |
| Melting point Tm | 177 °C | 130 °C | PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate, a PHA) — 47 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- Sudesh, Abe & Doi, Prog. Polym. Sci. 25 (2000) 1503–1555 — PHA structure & properties review
- 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.