Melamine vs. Thermoset PI

Both melamine and thermoset PI are thermoset plastics. There are 13 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (15, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is melamine and the bottom bar is thermoset PI.

Melamine Formaldehyde (MF)Thermoset Polyimide (PI)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		1.0
Elongation at Break, %		2.0 to 5.9

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		30
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		37 to 81

Thermal Properties

Maximum Temperature: Autoignition, °C		350
Maximum Temperature: Autoignition, °C		380

Maximum Temperature: Decomposition, °C		350
Maximum Temperature: Decomposition, °C		330

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1200
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1130

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.5
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.29 to 1.7

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		60
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		38 to 54

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		30
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		20

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		9.0
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		15

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.5
Density, g/cm³		1.4 to 1.6

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		5.6
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		6.5 to 16

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		14
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		16 to 30

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.28
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.18 to 0.95