Materials / Compare

Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Plastic Polycarbonate

Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Plastic Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 5052-H32Wrought
Plastic PolycarbonateBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength195MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset65MPasourcetypical, tensile yield
Ultimate tensile strength230MPasourcetypical65MPasourcetypical, stress at break
Flexural strengthnot sourced97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength
Elongation at break12%sourcetypical125%sourcetypical, strain at break
Young's modulus (stiffness)70GPasourcetypical29.2x stiffer2.4GPasourcetypical
Density2,685kg/m³sourcenominal1,200kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight72.6kN·m/kg34% higher54.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.1MN·m/kg13x higher2MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus26.3GPa30.3x stiffer in shear0.87GPa
Bulk modulus68.6GPa3.33GPa
Speed of sound5,106m/s1,414m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity138W/m·Ksourcebase material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typical0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C
Thermal expansion23.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing119µm growth2.73x less325µm growth
Specific heat963J/kg·Ksourceat 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H381,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)53.4mm²/s375x faster0.142mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance10,822W/m209x more resistant51.7W/m
Melting point605–650°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min
Max service temperaturenot sourced125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
Values for5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical 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 5052-H32 stronger than Plastic Polycarbonate?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (3x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 2,685 kg/m³ for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic Polycarbonate?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, 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 Polycarbonate?

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, strong rod or tie; Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 5052-H32Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter13x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.41x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter38% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter34% heavier
Strong beam8% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate29% heavierlighter

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 Polycarbonate?

Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 5052-H32 expands less: 23.8 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.

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 2024-T351Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic POM/AcetalPlastic 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 5052-H32Plastic Polycarbonate
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 2024-T351Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic POM/AcetalPlastic 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 5052-H32Plastic Polycarbonate
Strength against density

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