PPO vs. Phenolic

PPO belongs to the thermoplastics classification, while phenolic belongs to the thermoset plastics. 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 PPO and the bottom bar is phenolic.

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

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

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

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

Thermal Properties

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

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

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

Electrical Properties

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

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

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

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

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

Common Calculations

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

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