Materials / Compare
Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Copper C110
Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Copper C110 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 | 324MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | 69MPasourcetypical, 0.5% extension under load |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 469MPasourcetypical2.12x stronger | 221MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 19%sourcetypical, in 4D | 55%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 73.1GPasourcetypical | 117GPasourcetypical1.6x stiffer |
| Density | 2,770kg/m³sourcenominal3.22x lighter | 8,913kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 117kN·m/kg15.1x higher | 7.74kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.4MN·m/kg2.01x higher | 13.1MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers | 0.34sourcereference value at room temperature (Wieland-K32 = Cu-ETP = C11000, rolled products) |
| Shear modulus | 27.5GPa | 43.7GPa1.59x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 71.7GPa | 122GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,137m/s | 3,626m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 391W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C3.26x more heat through a fin |
| Thermal expansion | 22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 16.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C36% less |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 115µm growth | 84.5µm growth36% less |
| Specific heat | 875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 385J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 49.5mm²/s | 114mm²/s2.3x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 15,561W/m1.73x more resistant | 8,992W/m |
| Melting point | 502–638°Csourcemelting range | 1,065–1,083°Csourcesolidus-liquidus |
| Values for | 2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | C11000 ETP copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 1 in. rod, copper.org typical values |
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 Aluminum 2024-T351 stronger than Copper C110?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C110 (4.7x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C110?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is lighter: 2,770 kg/m³ against 8,913 kg/m³ for Copper C110.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C110?
Copper C110 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 73.1 GPa for Aluminum 2024-T351, so the same part in Copper C110 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C110?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 2024-T351 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 | Aluminum 2024-T351 | Copper C110 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2.01x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.54x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.75x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 15.1x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 9.02x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 6.97x 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, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C110?
Copper C110 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 120 W/m·K for Aluminum 2024-T351.
Which expands less with temperature?
Copper C110 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 22.9 µm/m·K for Aluminum 2024-T351.