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MDF vs. ASTM B541 Gold

MDF and ASTM B541 gold belong to fundamentally different material chemistries. MDF is a polymeric material, while ASTM B541 gold is a metal. Therefore, their performance will be even more dissimilar than would be suggested by the difference in properties. There are 13 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (14, in this case) are not shown. Please note that the two materials have significantly dissimilar densities. This means that additional care is required when interpreting the data, because some material properties are based on units of mass, while others are based on units of area or volume.

For each property being compared, the top bar is MDF and the bottom bar is ASTM B541 gold.

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa 4.0
110
Elongation at Break, % 0.5
6.0 to 14
Poisson's Ratio 0.25
0.4
Shear Modulus, GPa 2.5
38
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa 18
670 to 1180

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K 1700
170
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K 12
13

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm3 0.75
17

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points 3.0
3.4
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points 71
9.0
Strength to Weight: Axial, points 6.7
11 to 19
Strength to Weight: Bending, points 20
9.8 to 14
Thermal Shock Resistance, points 27
36 to 63