Density of Common Polymers and Plastics
Polymers generally have lower densities compared to traditional materials like metals and ceramics. This is because the molecular structure of polymers often consists of long, flexible chains with relatively low packing density. As a result, polymers, including plastics, are often lightweight materials.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of density values for different polymers and plastics at standard room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atmospheric (atm) pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
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| Acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS) | 1040 - 1180 |
| Butyl rubber (IIR) | 920 |
| Casein formaldehyde (GAT) | 1340 - 1350 |
| Cellulose acetate (CA) | 1270 - 1340 |
| Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) | 1150 - 1220 |
| Cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) | 1150 - 1220 |
| Cellulose nitrate (CN) | 1350 - 1600 |
| Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) | 1490 - 1500 |
| Chlorofluorinated polyethylene (CSM) | 1200 |
| Epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO) | 1200 |
| Epoxy resin | 1120 - 1180 |
| Ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) | 850 |
| Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) | 1700 |
| Ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) | 855 - 888 |
| Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) | 1680 |
| Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) | 2150 |
| Melamine formaldehyde (MF) | 1500 |
| Natural rubber | 920 - 1037 |
| Nitrile rubber (NBR) | 1000 |
| Nylon 6 (PA6) | 1130 |
| Nylon 11 (PA11) | 1040 |
| Nylon 12 (PA12) | 1010 |
| Nylon 46 (PA46) | 1180 |
| Nylon 66 (PA66) | 1140 |
| Nylon 610 (PA610) | 1100 - 1190 |
| Nylon 612 (PA612) | 1060 |
| Perfluorinated alkoxy (PFA) | 2140 - 2150 |
| Phenol formaldehyde (PF) | 1360 |
| Polyamide-imide (PAI) | 1420 - 1460 |
| Polyarylate resins (PAR) | 1210 |
| Polybenzeneimidazole (PBI) | 1300 |
| Polybutadiene (BR) | 910 |
| Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) | 1310 |
| Polybutylene (PB) | 935 |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | 1200 |
| Neoprene (CPR) | 1230 - 1250 |
| Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) | 1320 |
| Polyetherimide (PEI) | 1270 |
| Polyethersulfone (PESU) | 1370 |
| High-density polyethylene (HDPE) | 950 - 968 |
| Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) | 912 - 925 |
| Medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) | 926 - 940 |
| Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) | 940 |
| Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) | 1360 |
| Polyethylene oxide (PEO) | 1125 |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 1560 |
| Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) | 1250 |
| Polyimide (PI) | 1420 |
| Polylactic acid (PLA) | 1250 |
| Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 1180 - 1190 |
| Polymethylpentene (PMP) | 835 |
| Polyoxymethylene (POM) | 1400 |
| Polyphenylene oxide (PPO) | 1090 |
| Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) | 1350 |
| Polypropylene (PP atactic) | 850 - 900 |
| Polypropylene (PP isotactic) | 920 - 940 |
| Polypropylene (PP syndiotactic) | 890 - 915 |
| High-impact polystyrene (HIPS) | 1040 |
| Polystyrene (PS) | 1050 - 1070 |
| Polysulfide rubber (PSR) | 1340 |
| Polysulfone (PSU) | 1240 |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) | 2130 - 2220 |
| Polytrifluorochloroethylene (PTFCE) | 2100 |
| Polyurethane (PUR) | 1050 - 1250 |
| Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) | 1190 |
| Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) | 1630 |
| Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) | 1760 |
| Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) | 1380 - 1720 |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | 1160 - 1550 |
| Propylene vinylidene hexafluoride (PVHF) | 1800 - 1860 |
| Silicone rubber | 1150 |
| Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) | 940 |
| Isoprene rubber (IR) | 940 |
| Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) | 1300 - 1450 |
| Unsaturated polyester (UP) | 1780 |
| Urea-formaldehyde (UF) | 1470 - 1520 |
The density of a polymer can vary depending on its specific formulation and processing conditions.
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009.