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Polycaprolactone (PCL)

PCL is a thermoplastic, further classified as a polyester plastic. It has the lowest density among polyester plastics. In addition, it has the highest ductility and the lowest melting temperature. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare PCL to: polyester plastics (top), all thermoplastics (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature

-60 °C -76 °F

Maximum Temperature: Decomposition

200 °C 390 °F

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical

40 °C 100 °F

Melting Onset (Solidus)

60 °C 140 °F

Other Material Properties

Density

1.1 g/cm3 69 lb/ft3

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus

1.2 GPa 0.17 x 106 psi

Elongation at Break

300 %

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)

10 MPa 1.5 x 103 psi

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial

0.61 points

Stiffness to Weight: Bending

32 points

Strength to Weight: Axial

2.5 points

Strength to Weight: Bending

9.4 points

Followup Questions

Further Reading

SPI Plastics Engineering Handbook of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 5th ed., Michael L. Berins (editor), 2000

Modern Plastics Handbook, Charles A. Harper (editor), 1999

Plastics Materials, 7th ed., J. A. Brydson, 1999