Glass Transition Temperature of Polymers and Plastics

The glass transition temperature (Tg) is a critical temperature for polymers and plastics, marking the point at which these materials transition from a hard, brittle, and glassy state to a softer, more flexible, and rubbery state.

At temperatures below Tg, the polymer chains are frozen in a relatively ordered and rigid structure, akin to a solid. As temperature increases and approaches Tg, the polymer chains start to move more freely, leading to a transition from a glassy to a rubbery state.

The following table provides a comprehensive list of glass transition temperatures (Tg) for different polymers and plastics, taken at 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)

Click on the icon to switch between degrees Celsius (°C) and degrees Fahrenheit (°F) units.

Glass Transition Temperature of Polymers and Plastics
Acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS)105
Butyl rubber (IIR)-60
Cellulose acetate (CA)100 - 130
Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB)80 - 120
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC)100 - 110
Natural rubber-70
Nylon 6 (PA6)55
Nylon 11 (PA11)35 - 45
Nylon 12 (PA12)35 - 45
Nylon 66 (PA66)55
Perfluorinated alkoxy (PFA)90
Polyamide-imide (PAI)280
Polyarylate (PAR)190
Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)55 - 65
Polycarbonate (PC)145
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK)140
Polyetherimide (PEI)215
Polyethersulfone (PESU)210 - 230
High-density polyethylene (HDPE)-120
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-110
Medium-density polyethylene (MDPE)-120
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)70
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)15
Polyimide (PI)280 - 330
Polylactic acid (PLA)60 - 65
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)105
Polymethylpentene (PMP)30
Polyoxymethylene (POM)-55
Polyphenylene oxide (PPO)85
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)85
Polypropylene (PP atactic)-20
Polypropylene (PP isotactic)0
Polypropylene (PP syndiotactic)-10
High-impact polystyrene (HIPS)100
Polystyrene (PS)95
Polysulfone (PSU)190
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)115
Polytrifluorochloroethylene (PTFCE)45
Polyvinyl acetate (PVA)30
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL)85
Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC)-15
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-35
Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF)-20
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)80

The glass transition temperature of polymers can vary depending on factors such as the specific formulation and processing conditions.

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.