Thermoplastic comparison
Polypropylene (PP) 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 | Polypropylene (PP) | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.905 g/cm³ | 0.94 g/cm³ | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) — 4% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 1.4 GPa | 0.8 GPa | Polypropylene (PP) — 75% higher |
| Tensile strength | 34 MPa | 49 MPa | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) — 44% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | -10 °C | -120 °C | Polypropylene (PP) — 110 °C higher |
| Melting point Tm | 165 °C | 130 °C | Polypropylene (PP) — 35 °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.