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Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal

Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 2024-T351Wrought
Plastic POM/AcetalBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength324MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength)
Ultimate tensile strength469MPasourcetypical6.8x stronger69MPasourcetypical
Compressive strengthnot sourced124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation
Flexural strengthnot sourced99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical
Elongation at break19%sourcetypical, in 4D75%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)73.1GPasourcetypical26.1x stiffer2.8GPasourcetypical
Density2,770kg/m³sourcenominal1,420kg/m³sourcetypical (DuPont product information for Delrin 100 NC010; 'The data listed here fall within the normal range of product properties')
Strength to weight117kN·m/kg2.41x higher48.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.4MN·m/kg13.4x higher1.97MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers0.35sourcetypical
Shear modulus27.5GPa26.5x stiffer in shear1.04GPa
Bulk modulus71.7GPa3.11GPa
Speed of sound5,137m/s1,404m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing115µm growth5.33x less610µm growth
Specific heat875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)49.5mm²/s257x faster0.192mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance15,561W/m296x more resistant52.5W/m
Melting point502–638°Csourcemelting range175°Csourcecrystalline melting point
Max service temperaturenot sourced125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed)
Values for2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JDuPont Delrin 100 acetal homopolymer, Table 2 'Typical Properties of Delrin Acetal Resins' (ASTM methods), Delrin Design Guide Module III hosted on delrin.com

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 POM/Acetal?

Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 69 MPa for Plastic POM/Acetal (4.7x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic POM/Acetal?

Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter: 1,420 kg/m³ against 2,770 kg/m³ for Aluminum 2024-T351.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic POM/Acetal?

Aluminum 2024-T351 is stiffer: Young's modulus 73.1 GPa against 2.8 GPa for Plastic POM/Acetal, 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 POM/Acetal?

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 beAluminum 2024-T351Plastic POM/Acetal
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter13.4x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.62x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter1.52x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter2.41x heavier
Strong beamlighter44% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter11% 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 POM/Acetal?

Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 2024-T351 expands less: 22.9 µm/m·K against 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelAluminum 2024-T351Plastic POM/Acetal
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickAluminum 2024-T351Plastic POM/Acetal
Strength against density

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