PPO vs. PS

Both PPO and PS are thermoplastics. There are 14 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (15, in this case) are not shown.

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

Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)Polystyrene (PS)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		3.5 to 28
Elongation at Break, %		1.8 to 40

Flexural Strength, MPa		92 to 140
Flexural Strength, MPa		62 to 80

Impact Strength: Notched Izod, J/m		80 to 270
Impact Strength: Notched Izod, J/m		19 to 45

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		63 to 140
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		32 to 44

Thermal Properties

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		100 to 110
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		70

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

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		25 to 60
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		80 to 98

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		19 to 21
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		18 to 20

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		15
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		14 to 15

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.1 to 1.4
Density, g/cm³		1.0

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		32
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		18

Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.060 to 0.070
Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.040 to 0.080

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		16 to 27
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		8.5 to 12

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		33 to 42
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		22 to 26