Materials / Compare
Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic PLA
Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic PLA 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 | 52.5MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 469MPasourcetypical | 52.5MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 96.8MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 19%sourcetypical, in 4D | 7.8%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 73.1GPasourcetypical22.5x stiffer | 3.25GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,770kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,240kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 117kN·m/kg2.76x higher | 42.3kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.4MN·m/kg10.1x higher | 2.62MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 27.5GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 71.7GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 5,137m/s | 1,619m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.13W/m·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | not sourced |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 115µm growth | not sourced |
| Specific heat | 875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 1,200J/kg·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 49.5mm²/s567x faster | 0.0874mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 15,561W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | 502–638°Csourcemelting range | 152°Csourcetypical |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 59.1°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 58.8°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | 2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Ultimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated April 20, 2022. |
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 PLA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum 2024-T351 stronger than Plastic PLA?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (6.17x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 2,770 kg/m³ for Aluminum 2024-T351.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic PLA?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stiffer: Young's modulus 73.1 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, 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 Plastic PLA?
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 | Plastic PLA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 10.1x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.12x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 26% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.76x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.51x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 11% 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 Plastic PLA?
Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.