Polyphenylene Ether (PPE)
PPE is a thermoplastic, further classified as a polyphenylene plastic. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare PPE to: polyphenylene plastics (top), all thermoplastics (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
2.3 GPa 0.33 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
30 %
Flexural Strength
75 MPa 11 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
55 MPa 8.0 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Glass Transition Temperature
85 °C 190 °F
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi)
120 °C 240 °F
Maximum Temperature: Autoignition
430 °C 800 °F
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
90 °C 190 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
260 °C 500 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
1200 J/kg-K 0.29 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
0.22 W/m-K 0.13 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
90 µm/m-K
Vicat Softening Temperature
140 °C 280 °F
Electrical Properties
Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 MHz
2.7
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential)
19 kV/mm 0.74 V/mil
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude
13 10x Ω-m
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Density
1.1 g/cm3 66 lb/ft3
Water Absorption After 24 Hours
0.23 %
Common Calculations
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
1.2 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
42 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
14 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
30 points
Thermal Diffusivity
0.17 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
19 points
Followup Questions
Further Reading
SPI Plastics Engineering Handbook of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 5th ed., Michael L. Berins (editor), 2000
Modern Plastics Handbook, Charles A. Harper (editor), 1999
Plastics Materials, 7th ed., J. A. Brydson, 1999