PS vs. MDPE

Both PS and MDPE are thermoplastics. There are 8 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (20, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is PS and the bottom bar is MDPE.

Polystyrene (PS)Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Material Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.0
Density, g/cm³		0.93

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		1.9 to 2.9
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		0.6

Glass Transition Temperature, °C		100
Glass Transition Temperature, °C		-80

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1250 to 1400
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		2350

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		1.0 to 1.5
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		0.36

Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		40 to 45
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		30

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.14 to 0.22
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.4

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.11 to 0.15
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.18

PS vs. MDPE

Material Properties

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