Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. Aluminum 6061-T6
Compare Plastic ABS vs. Aluminum 6061-T6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical | 276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 310MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 68.3GPasourcetypical34.8x stiffer |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 2,700kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 102kN·m/kg2.95x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 25.3MN·m/kg14.2x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | 25.7GPa36.4x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | 67GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 5,030m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 118µm growth4.03x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 69mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | 19,159W/m904x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidus |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | not sourced |
| Values for | Ultimaker ABS, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v5.00, April 20, 2022. | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J |
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.
Plastic ABS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic ABS stronger than Aluminum 6061-T6?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (7.24x).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 6061-T6?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6061-T6.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 6061-T6?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Aluminum 6061-T6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or Aluminum 6061-T6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic ABS | Aluminum 6061-T6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 14.2x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 2.4x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 33% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.95x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.53x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 10% heavier | lighter |
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 or Aluminum 6061-T6?
Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 6061-T6 expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.