Thermoplastic comparison
PVC, rigid (uPVC) 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 | PVC, rigid (uPVC) | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.4 g/cm³ | 0.94 g/cm³ | PVC, rigid (uPVC) — 49% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 3 GPa | 0.8 GPa | PVC, rigid (uPVC) — 3.8× higher |
| Tensile strength | 48 MPa | 49 MPa | UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) — 2% higher |
| Glass transition Tg | 82 °C | -120 °C | PVC, rigid (uPVC) — 202 °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.