Materials / Compare

Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic Polypropylene

Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic Polypropylene strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side
Aluminum 2024-T351Wrought
Plastic PolypropyleneBulk polymer (molded or machined)
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strength324MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527
Ultimate tensile strength469MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Elongation at break19%sourcetypical, in 4Dnot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)73.1GPasourcetypical1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527
Density2,770kg/m³sourcenominal900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1
Strength to weight117kN·m/kg3.19x higher36.7kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.4MN·m/kg16.4x higher1.61MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Shear modulus27.5GPa53.8x stiffer in shear0.511GPa
Bulk modulus71.7GPa3.02GPa
Speed of sound5,137m/s1,269m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
Thermal expansion22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing115µm growth3.93x less450µm growth
Specific heat875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)49.5mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance15,561W/m544x more resistant28.6W/m
Melting point502–638°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Max service temperaturenot sourced90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed
Values for2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JLyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO 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 Plastic Polypropylene?

Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (9.82x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 2,770 kg/m³ for Aluminum 2024-T351.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic Polypropylene?

Aluminum 2024-T351 is stiffer: Young's modulus 73.1 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, 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 Polypropylene?

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 Polypropylene
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter16.4x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.31x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter20% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter3.19x heavier
Strong beamlighter49% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2% 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 Polypropylene?

Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 0.195 W/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 2024-T351 expands less: 22.9 µm/m·K against 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.

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 POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic 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 Polypropylene
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 POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic 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 Polypropylene
Strength against density

Related comparisons