Polycaprolactone (PCL)
PCL is a thermoplastic, further classified as a polyester plastic. It has the lowest density among polyester plastics. In addition, it has the highest ductility and the lowest melting temperature. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare PCL to: polyester plastics (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.
Thermal Properties
Glass Transition Temperature
-60 °C -76 °F
Maximum Temperature: Decomposition
200 °C 390 °F
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
40 °C 100 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
60 °C 140 °F
Other Material Properties
Density
1.1 g/cm3 69 lb/ft3
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
1.2 GPa 0.17 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
300 %
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
10 MPa 1.5 x 103 psi
Common Calculations
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
0.61 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
32 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
2.5 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
9.4 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