Polyglycolic Acid (PGA, Polyglycolide)
PGA is a thermoplastic, further classified as a polyester plastic. It has a fairly high density among the polyester plastics in the database. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare PGA 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.
Mechanical Properties
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
6.5 GPa 0.94 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
1.0 %
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
55 MPa 8.0 x 103 psi
Other Material Properties
Density
1.5 g/cm3 94 lb/ft3
Maximum Temperature: Decomposition
260 °C 500 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
230 °C 440 °F
Common Calculations
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
2.4 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
41 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
10 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
21 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