MDF vs. PAR

MDF belongs to the wood-based materials classification, while PAR belongs to the thermoplastics. There are 15 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (14, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is MDF and the bottom bar is PAR.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)Polyarylate (PAR)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Compressive (Crushing) Strength, MPa		10
Compressive (Crushing) Strength, MPa		93

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		4.0
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		2.0

Elongation at Break, %		0.5
Elongation at Break, %		50

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		18
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		67

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1700
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1200

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.3
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.18

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		12
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		88

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		0.5
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		16

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		0.75
Density, g/cm³		1.2

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		3.0
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		0.93

Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		71
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		35

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		6.7
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		16

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		20
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		31

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.24
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.13

Thermal Shock Resistance, points		27
Thermal Shock Resistance, points		27