Materials / Compare
Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 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 | 195MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 230MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 12%sourcetypical | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 70GPasourcetypical | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 2,685kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 72.6kN·m/kg | 79.6kN·m/kg10% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.1MN·m/kg8.42x higher | 3.1MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 26.3GPa21.1x stiffer in shear | 1.25GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 68.6GPa | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,106m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 138W/m·Ksourcebase material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typical | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 23.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 119µm growth4.29x less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourceat 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38 | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 53.4mm²/s311x faster | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 10,822W/m217x more resistant | 49.9W/m |
| Melting point | 605–650°Csourcemelting range | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| Values for | 5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat) | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) |
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 5052-H32 stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (2.17x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 2,685 kg/m³ for Aluminum 5052-H32.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum 5052-H32 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in Aluminum 5052-H32 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum 5052-H32 | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 8.42x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.88x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 14% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 10% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 42% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.61x 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 5052-H32 or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 5052-H32 expands less: 23.8 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.