PS vs. PPO

Both PS and PPO 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 PS and the bottom bar is PPO.

Polystyrene (PS)Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

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

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

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

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

Thermal Properties

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

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

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

Electrical Properties

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

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

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

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

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

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

Common Calculations

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

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