Materials / Compare
Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic PMMA
Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic PMMA 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 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 469MPasourcetypical | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 115MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 19%sourcetypical, in 4D | 5.5%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 73.1GPasourcetypical | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term |
| Density | 2,770kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 117kN·m/kg1.74x higher | 67.2kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.4MN·m/kg9.52x higher | 2.77MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers | 0.37sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 27.5GPa22.8x stiffer in shear | 1.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 71.7GPa | 4.23GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,137m/s | 1,665m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 115µm growth3.06x less | 350µm growth |
| Specific heat | 875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 49.5mm²/s456x faster | 0.109mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 15,561W/m375x more resistant | 41.5W/m |
| Melting point | 502–638°Csourcemelting range | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature |
| Values for | 2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) |
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 Plastic PMMA?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against tensile strength 80 MPa for Plastic PMMA (4.05x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 2,770 kg/m³ for Aluminum 2024-T351.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic PMMA?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stiffer: Young's modulus 73.1 GPa against 3.3 GPa for Plastic PMMA, 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 PMMA?
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; Plastic PMMA is lighter for a strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum 2024-T351 | Plastic PMMA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 9.52x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.02x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 21% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.74x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 9% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | 16% 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, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic PMMA?
Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 2024-T351 expands less: 22.9 µm/m·K against 70 µm/m·K for Plastic PMMA.