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Ionomer

Ionomer is a thermoplastic, further classified as an ethylene copolymer. It has a fairly high ductility among thermoplastics. In addition, it has a fairly low density and a moderately low tensile strength. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare ionomer to: ethylene copolymers (top), all thermoplastics (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus

0.4 GPa 0.058 x 106 psi

Elongation at Break

350 %

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)

37 MPa 5.4 x 103 psi

Thermal Properties

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical

75 °C 170 °F

Melting Onset (Solidus)

94 °C 200 °F

Vicat Softening Temperature

72 °C 160 °F

Other Material Properties

Density

0.94 g/cm3 59 lb/ft3

Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 Hz

2.4

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential)

39 kV/mm 1.5 V/mil

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial

0.24 points

Stiffness to Weight: Bending

26 points

Strength to Weight: Axial

11 points

Strength to Weight: Bending

26 points

Followup Questions

Further Reading

SPI Plastics Engineering Handbook of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 5th ed., Michael L. Berins (editor), 2000

Modern Plastics Handbook, Charles A. Harper (editor), 1999

Plastics Materials, 7th ed., J. A. Brydson, 1999