UP vs Vinyl Ester
Polymer · grade comparison
UP and Vinyl Ester are both polymer grades. Vinyl Ester is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 84 MPa (12.2 ksi) against 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) for UP, about 53% more. Vinyl Ester is the more ductile: elongation 5.5% versus 2% for UP. Vinyl Ester is lighter (1.13 g/cm³ vs 1.2 g/cm³ for UP) and Vinyl Ester runs hotter in service (95°C vs 85°C continuous). On the shop floor, UP sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Vinyl Ester (standard, $$).
UPChoose it when cost is the deciding factor.
Vinyl EsterChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
UP vs Vinyl Ester: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polymer grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polymer grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Compressive Modulus
Flexural Strength
Flexural Modulus
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Izod Impact, Notched
Hardness, Shore D
Hardness, Rockwell M
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Glass Transition (Tg)
Water Absorption (24 h)
Water Absorption (Saturation)
Light Transmission
Same in both: Refractive Index 1.55
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa
Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa
Limiting Oxygen Index
Max Service Temperature (short-term)
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 1,300 J/kg·K0.31 BTU/lb·°F · Min Service Temperature -40°C-40 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)
Volume Resistivity
Comparative Tracking Index (CTI)
Same in both: Dielectric Strength 17 kV/mm432 V/mil · Dissipation Factor (1 MHz) 0.02 · Surface Resistivity 1×10¹⁴ Ω
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
UV / Weathering Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Polishability
Mold Temperature (typ.)
Same in both: Machinability 55 / 100 · Weldability 5 / 100 · Formability (cold) 5 / 100 · Mold Shrinkage 2%
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | UP | Vinyl Ester |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $ Budget | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
UP vs Vinyl Ester — frequently asked
Is Vinyl Ester stronger than UP?
Yes. Vinyl Ester has a typical tensile strength of 84 MPa (12.2 ksi) against 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) for UP — about 53% more.
Which is cheaper, UP or Vinyl Ester?
UP is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Vinyl Ester is standard ($$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
When should I choose UP over Vinyl Ester?
Pick UP when cost is the deciding factor. Pick Vinyl Ester when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in UP and Vinyl Ester 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.