Phenolic vs. MDF
Phenolic belongs to the thermoset plastics classification, while MDF belongs to the wood-based materials. There are 14 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (10, in this case) are not shown.
For each property being compared, the top bar is phenolic and the bottom bar is MDF.
Metric UnitsUS Customary Units
Mechanical Properties
| Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa | 3.8 | |
| 4.0 |
| Elongation at Break, % | 2.0 | |
| 0.5 |
| Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa | 48 | |
| 18 |
Thermal Properties
| Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K | 1400 | |
| 1700 |
| Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K | 0.25 | |
| 0.3 |
| Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K | 120 | |
| 12 |
Electrical Properties
| Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm | 46 | |
| 0.5 |
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
| Density, g/cm3 | 1.3 | |
| 0.75 |
Common Calculations
| Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points | 1.6 | |
| 3.0 |
| Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points | 40 | |
| 71 |
| Strength to Weight: Axial, points | 10 | |
| 6.7 |
| Strength to Weight: Bending, points | 23 | |
| 20 |
| Thermal Diffusivity, mm2/s | 0.14 | |
| 0.24 |
| Thermal Shock Resistance, points | 7.5 | |
| 27 |