Plastic TypeThermal PropertiesDensityStrength
NameAbbrevationTm
$^\circ C$
Tg
$^\circ C$
Td
$^\circ C$
Cte
$ppm/^\circ C$
g/ccCompressive
(psi)
Tensile
(psi)
Polyethylene
Terephthalate
PET/PETE245
265
73
80
21
38
65
-
1.29
1.40
11000
15000
7000
10500
Low Density
Polyethylene
LDPE98
115
-2540
44
100
220
0.917
0.932
-
-
1200
4550
High Density
Polyethylene
HDPE130
137
-
-
79
91
59
110
0.952
0.965
2700
3600
3200
4500
PolypropylenePP168
175
-20107
121
81
100
0.900
0.910
5500
8000
4500
6000
PolyvinylchloridePVC-
-
75
105
57
82
50
100
1.30
1.58
8000
13000
5900
7500
PolystyrenePS-
-
74
105
68
96
50
83
1.04
1.05
12000
13000
5200
7500
Tm - crystalline melting temperature (some plastics have no crystallinity and are said to be amorphous).
Tg - glass transition temperature (the plastic becomes brittle below this temperature).
Td - heat distortion temperature under a 66 psi load.
Cte - coefficient of linear thermal expansion.
Tensile Strength - load necessary to pull a sample of the plastic apart.
Compressive Strength - load necessary to crush a sample of the plastic.
Density - aka specific gravitymass of plastic per unit volume.