PLA vs. Thermoset PI
PLA belongs to the thermoplastics classification, while thermoset PI belongs to the thermoset plastics. There are 12 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (18, in this case) are not shown.
For each property being compared, the top bar is PLA and the bottom bar is thermoset PI.
Metric UnitsUS Customary Units
Mechanical Properties
| Elongation at Break, % | 6.0 | |
| 2.0 to 5.9 |
| Flexural Modulus, GPa | 4.0 | |
| 3.1 to 4.8 |
| Flexural Strength, MPa | 80 | |
| 60 to 100 |
| Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa | 50 | |
| 37 to 81 |
Thermal Properties
| Glass Transition Temperature, °C | 60 | |
| 360 |
| Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C | 50 | |
| 260 |
| Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K | 1800 | |
| 1130 |
| Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K | 0.13 | |
| 0.29 to 1.7 |
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
| Density, g/cm3 | 1.3 | |
| 1.4 to 1.6 |
Common Calculations
| Strength to Weight: Axial, points | 11 | |
| 6.5 to 16 |
| Strength to Weight: Bending, points | 24 | |
| 16 to 30 |
| Thermal Diffusivity, mm2/s | 0.058 | |
| 0.18 to 0.95 |