Thermoplastic comparison
PVC, rigid (uPVC) vs TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)
Every value below is a typical room-temperature figure with its source, test method and conditions — the same dataset that drives the calculators.
| Property | PVC, rigid (uPVC) | TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.4 g/cm³ | 1.2 g/cm³ | PVC, rigid (uPVC) — 17% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 3 GPa | 0.03 GPa | PVC, rigid (uPVC) — 100.0× higher |
| Tensile strength | 48 MPa | 40 MPa | PVC, rigid (uPVC) — 20% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 82 °C | -35 °C | PVC, rigid (uPVC) — 117 °C higher |
Where these numbers come from
- Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed.
- CAMPUS plastics database — typical grade datasheet values (campusplastics.com)
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.