Thermoplastic Composite Mechanical Properties

Thermoplastic Composite is a material made from virtually 100% recycled plastics. The innovative blend of plastics provides excellent strength and vastly improves the creep resistance over traditional plastics and offers superior durability over traditional materials. The recycled plastic formulation is impervious to moisture and insects, it offers excellent UV resistance, and it will not corrode or rot. These properties made the Thermoplastic Composite material ideal for structural applications in harsh environments.

Thermoplastic Composites are used as the primary material for a number of bridges. These structures incorporate Thermoplastic Composites pilings, I-beams, decking and other structural components. The only elements of the bridge not made from Thermoplastic Composites are the fasteners.

Mechanical Properties

Ultimate tensile stress	3,000 psi	20.68 MPa
Allowable tensile stress	600 psi	4.14 MPa
Tensile modulus of elasticity at 1 % strain	250,000 psi	1,724 MPa
Ultimate compressive stress	3,500 psi	24.13 MPa
Allowable long term compressive stress	600 psi	4.14 MPa
Flexural stress at 3% outer fiber strain	2,500 psi	17.24 MPa
Allowable long term flexural stress	600 psi	4.14 MPa
Ultimate shear strength	1,100 psi	7.58 MPa
Allowable long term shear stress	350 psi	2.41 MPa
UV	0.003 in/year	7.62E-5 m/year
Coefficient of thermal expansion	2.82E-05 / degree F	5.08E-05 / degree C
Density (specific gravity is 0.80)	0.029 pci, 50 pcf	800 Kg / m 3
Tensile (ASTM D638), Compressive (ASTM D695), and flexural (ASTM D6109) All mechanical properties listed are recorded at room temperature (23 °C)

Weight comparison of Thermoplastic Composite with other building materials:

Wood (Oak)
Thermoplastic Composite
Concrete
Steel

45 pcf
50 pcf
150 pcf
489 pcf