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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Aluminum 5052-H32

Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. Aluminum 5052-H32 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
Aluminum 5052-H32Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C195MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced230MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength65MPasourcetypical, 23 °Cnot sourced
Elongation at break10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C12%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.3GPasourcetypical70GPasourcetypical30.4x stiffer
Density1,040kg/m³sourcetypical2,685kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight43.3kN·m/kg72.6kN·m/kg1.68x higher
Stiffness to weight2.21MN·m/kg26.1MN·m/kg11.8x higher
Poisson's ratio0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)
Shear modulus0.827GPa26.3GPa31.8x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.48GPa68.6GPa
Speed of sound1,487m/s5,106m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical138W/m·Ksourcebase material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typical
Thermal expansion80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange23.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing475µm growth119µm growth3.99x less
Specific heatnot sourced963J/kg·Ksourceat 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced53.4mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance21.4W/m10,822W/m507x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced605–650°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)not sourced
Values forINEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)

Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than Aluminum 5052-H32?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (4.33x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Aluminum 5052-H32?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 2,685 kg/m³ for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Aluminum 5052-H32?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Aluminum 5052-H32 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Aluminum 5052-H32?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a strong panel or plate; Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must bePlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Aluminum 5052-H32
Stiff rod or tie (tension)11.8x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)2.14x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate21% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie1.68x heavierlighter
Strong beam3% heavierlighter
Strong panel or platelighter24% heavier

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or Aluminum 5052-H32?

Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 5052-H32 expands less: 23.8 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Aluminum 5052-H32
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic ABS (bulk/injection)Aluminum 5052-H32
Strength against density

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