Phenolic vs. PPO

Phenolic belongs to the thermoset plastics classification, while PPO belongs to the thermoplastics. There are 11 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (17, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is phenolic and the bottom bar is PPO.

Phenol Formaldehyde (PF, Phenolic)Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		2.0
Elongation at Break, %		3.5 to 28

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		48
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		63 to 140

Thermal Properties

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		150
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		100 to 110

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1400
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1020 to 1250

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		120
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		25 to 60

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		46
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		19 to 21

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		11
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		15

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.3
Density, g/cm³		1.1 to 1.4

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		27
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		32

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		10
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		16 to 27

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		23
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		33 to 42