Properties of Fibers and Conventional Bulk Materials
 

 
 
 
 

Material
Tensile Modulus 

(E)

[GPa]
Tensile Strength (su)

[GPa]
Density

(r)

[g/cm3]
Specific Modulus 

(E/r)

[109 N· m/kg]
Specific 

Strength 

(su/r)

[109 N· m/kg]
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (Cx106/oC)
Thermal Conductivity parallel to axis

W/moC
Fibers
              
E-glass
72.4
3.5
2.54
28.5
1.38
4.8
1.04
S-glass
85.5
4.6
2.48
34.5
1.85
    
Type I Carbon 

(high modulus)
390.0
2.1
1.90
205.0
1.1
-0.5 to –1.2 (parallel)

7 to 12 (radial)
105
Type II Carbon 

(high tensile strength)
240.0
2.9
1.77
135.6
1.64
-0.1 to –0.5 (parallel)

7 to 12 (radial)
24
Type III Carbon
190.0
2.6
1.76
108.0
1.48
    
Boron
385.0
2.8
2.63
146.0
1.1
5.1
  
Silicon Carbide

(on tungsten)
400
3.5
3.50
114.0
1.0
    
Silica
72.4
5.8
2.19
33.0
2.65
0.6
  
Tungsten
414.0
4.2
19.30
21.0
0.22
    
Beryllium
240.0
1.3
1.83
131.0
0.71
    
PBT (heat treated)
331.0
4.2
1.58
209.0
2.65
    
Keflar® -49
130.0
2.8
1.45
87.0
1.87
-2 (parallel)

59 (radial)
0.04
Kevlar® -29
60.0
2.8
1.44
42.0
1.80
    
Spectra ® -900 (PE)
117.0
2.6
0.97
120.0
2.8
    
Spectra® -1000
172.0
3.0
0.97
180.0
3.2
    
               
Conventional Materials
              
Steel
210.0
0.34 to 2.1
7.8
26.9
0.043 to 0.27
10 to 14
  
Aluminum Alloys
70.0
0.14 to 0.62
2.7
25.9
0.052 to 0.23
    
Glass
70.0
0.7 to 0.21
2.5
28.0
0.28 to 0.84
    
Tungsten
350.0
1.1 to 4.1
19.30
18.1
0.057 to 0.21
    
Beryllium
300.0
0.7
1.38
164.0
0.38
    

Comparative Graphite Fiber Properties
 
Property
Pitch
Rayon
PAN
Tensile Strength (GPa)
1.55
2.06 to 2.75
2.5 to 3.2
Tensile Modulus, (GPa)
370
380 to 550
210 to 400
Short Beam Shear, (MPa)      
Untreated
41
28
28 to 68
Treated
68
56
56 to 120
Specific Gravity
2.0
1.7
1.8
Elongation, %
1
---
1.2 to 0.6
Fiber Diameter, (mm)
---
6.5
7.5

 

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Ref.
Jang, B. Z. Advanced Polymer Composites:  Principles and Applications; ASM International: Materials Park, 1994.