Hardwood vs. PS

Hardwood belongs to the wood-based materials classification, while PS belongs to the thermoplastics. There are 15 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (12, in this case) are not shown.

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

Hardwood Polystyrene (PS)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		12
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		1.9 to 2.9

Elongation at Break, %		2.0
Elongation at Break, %		1.8 to 40

Poisson's Ratio		0.37
Poisson's Ratio		0.4 to 0.41

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		80
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		32 to 44

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1260
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1250 to 1400

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.16
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.14 to 0.22

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		6.0
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		80 to 98

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		0.5
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		18 to 20

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		0.7
Density, g/cm³		1.0

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		9.5
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		1.0 to 1.5

Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		110
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		40 to 45

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		32
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		8.5 to 12

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		59
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		22 to 26

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

Thermal Shock Resistance, points		79
Thermal Shock Resistance, points		11 to 15