Epoxy vs. PFA

Epoxy belongs to the thermoset plastics classification, while PFA belongs to the thermoplastics. There are 14 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (16, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is epoxy and the bottom bar is PFA.

Epoxy Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		4.5
Elongation at Break, %		300

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		67
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		30

Thermal Properties

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		130
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		260

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1500
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1000

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.2
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.25

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		100
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		120

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		16
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		22

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		13
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		16

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.3
Density, g/cm³		2.2

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		20
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		80

Refractive Index		1.6
Refractive Index		1.4

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		14
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		3.9

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		28
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		10

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.1
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.12