MDF vs. PS
MDF belongs to the wood-based materials classification, while PS belongs to the thermoplastics. There are 15 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (12, in this case) are not shown.
For each property being compared, the top bar is MDF and the bottom bar is PS.
Metric UnitsUS Customary Units
Mechanical Properties
| Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa | 4.0 | |
| 1.9 to 2.9 |
| Elongation at Break, % | 0.5 | |
| 1.8 to 40 |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.25 | |
| 0.4 to 0.41 |
| Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa | 18 | |
| 32 to 44 |
Thermal Properties
| Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K | 1700 | |
| 1250 to 1400 |
| Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K | 0.3 | |
| 0.14 to 0.22 |
| Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K | 12 | |
| 80 to 98 |
Electrical Properties
| Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm | 0.5 | |
| 18 to 20 |
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
| Density, g/cm3 | 0.75 | |
| 1.0 |
Common Calculations
| Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points | 3.0 | |
| 1.0 to 1.5 |
| Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points | 71 | |
| 40 to 45 |
| Strength to Weight: Axial, points | 6.7 | |
| 8.5 to 12 |
| Strength to Weight: Bending, points | 20 | |
| 22 to 26 |
| Thermal Diffusivity, mm2/s | 0.24 | |
| 0.11 to 0.15 |
| Thermal Shock Resistance, points | 27 | |
| 11 to 15 |