FabDigit

Kevlar 29 vs Kevlar 49 vs Kevlar 149 vs Twaron

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 composite grades.

Kevlar 29 vs Kevlar 49 and 2 more: properties

Kevlar 29Kevlar 49Kevlar 149Twaron

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

70.5 GPa10.2 Msi
112 GPa16.2 Msi
175 GPa25.4 Msi
70 GPa10.2 Msi

Shear Modulus

2.2 GPa0.32 Msi
2.9 GPa0.42 Msi
2 GPa0.29 Msi
2.9 GPa0.42 Msi

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

2,920 MPa424 ksi
3,000 MPa435 ksi
3,400 MPa493 ksi
3,100 MPa450 ksi

Elongation at Break

3.6%
2.4%
1.5%
3.6%

Compressive Strength

400 MPa58 ksi
400 MPa58 ksi
400 MPa58 ksi

Shear Strength

45 MPa6.5 ksi

Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.36

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

1.44 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³
1.44 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³
1.47 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³
1.44 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³

Glass Transition (Tg)

360°C680 °F
360°C680 °F
360°C680 °F
340°C644 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

4%
1%
4.5%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

7%
4%
1.5%

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

0.04 W/m·K0.02 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.04 W/m·K0.02 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.05 W/m·K0.03 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.05 W/m·K0.03 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

-2 µm/m·K-1.1 µin/in·°F
-2 µm/m·K-1.1 µin/in·°F
-4 µm/m·K-2.2 µin/in·°F
-3.5 µm/m·K-1.9 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

180°C356 °F
160°C320 °F
180°C356 °F
180°C356 °F

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

250°C482 °F
250°C482 °F
300°C572 °F
250°C482 °F

Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 1,420 J/kg·K0.34 BTU/lb·°F · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F · Limiting Oxygen Index 29%

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Resistivity

1×10¹³ Ω·m3.94×10²⁰ µΩ·in
1×10¹³ Ω·m3.94×10²⁰ µΩ·in
1×10¹³ Ω·m3.94×10²⁰ µΩ·in
1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in

Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)

0.02
0.02
0.01

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹⁵ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁵ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁵ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm

Same in both: Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) 4

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

65 / 100
70 / 100
65 / 100
80 / 100

UV / Weathering Resistance

20 / 100
20 / 100
25 / 100
20 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Polishability

20 / 100
25 / 100

Same in both: Machinability 25 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

270 MJ/kg116,079 BTU/lb
280 MJ/kg120,378 BTU/lb
285 MJ/kg122,528 BTU/lb
280 MJ/kg120,378 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

13 kg CO₂/kg
17 kg CO₂/kg
16 kg CO₂/kg
16 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

500 L/kg59.9 gal/lb
400 L/kg47.9 gal/lb
400 L/kg47.9 gal/lb

Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

2,028 kN·m/kg
2,083 kN·m/kg
2,313 kN·m/kg
2,153 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

49 MN·m/kg
77.8 MN·m/kg
119 MN·m/kg
48.6 MN·m/kg

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

-1
-1
0
-1

Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0 mm²/s

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every composite grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

1101001,000510Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scale

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityKevlar 29Kevlar 49Kevlar 149Twaron
Default condition
Relative cost$$$$ High$$$$ High$$$$ High$$$$ High
Min. machined wall
Best machined surface

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Kevlar 29 and Kevlar 49 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.