Materials / Compare
Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Glass
Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Glass strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA sample part 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 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 469MPasourcetypical | 41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile) |
| Elongation at break | 19%sourcetypical, in 4D | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 73.1GPasourcetypical | 72GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,770kg/m³sourcenominal | 2,500kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 117kN·m/kg7.13x higher | 16.4kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.4MN·m/kg | 28.8MN·m/kg9% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers | 0.22sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 27.5GPa | 29.5GPa7% stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 71.7GPa | 42.9GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,137m/s | 5,367m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F |
| Thermal expansion | 22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 115µm growth | 41.5µm growth2.76x less |
| Specific heat | 875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 49.5mm²/s116x faster | 0.426mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 15,561W/m310x more resistant | 50.1W/m |
| Melting point | 502–638°Csourcemelting range | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit |
| Values for | 2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025) |
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 Glass?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against tensile strength 41 MPa for Glass (7.9x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Glass?
Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 2,770 kg/m³ for Aluminum 2024-T351.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Glass?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stiffer: Young's modulus 73.1 GPa against 72 GPa for Glass, so the same part in Aluminum 2024-T351 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Glass?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 2024-T351 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Glass is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum 2024-T351 | Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 9% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 10% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 10% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 7.13x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 3.58x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.54x 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 Glass?
Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 0.937 W/m·K for Glass.
Which expands less with temperature?
Glass expands less: 8.3 µm/m·K against 22.9 µm/m·K for Aluminum 2024-T351.