Materials / Compare
Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal
Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal 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 | 69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 230MPasourcetypical3.33x stronger | 69MPasourcetypical |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical |
| Elongation at break | 12%sourcetypical | 75%sourcetypical6.25x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 70GPasourcetypical25x stiffer | 2.8GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,685kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,420kg/m³sourcetypical (DuPont product information for Delrin 100 NC010; 'The data listed here fall within the normal range of product properties') |
| Strength to weight | 72.6kN·m/kg49% higher | 48.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.1MN·m/kg13.2x higher | 1.97MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | 0.35sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 26.3GPa25.4x stiffer in shear | 1.04GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 68.6GPa | 3.11GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,106m/s | 1,404m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 138W/m·Ksourcebase material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typical | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 23.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 119µm growth5.13x less | 610µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourceat 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38 | 1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 53.4mm²/s278x faster | 0.192mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 10,822W/m206x more resistant | 52.5W/m |
| Melting point | 605–650°Csourcemelting range | 175°Csourcecrystalline melting point |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed) |
| Values for | 5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat) | DuPont 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 5052-H32 stronger than Plastic POM/Acetal?
Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 69 MPa for Plastic POM/Acetal (2.83x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter: 1,420 kg/m³ against 2,685 kg/m³ for Aluminum 5052-H32.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Aluminum 5052-H32 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70 GPa against 2.8 GPa for Plastic POM/Acetal, 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 POM/Acetal?
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, strong beam; Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter for a strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum 5052-H32 | Plastic POM/Acetal |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 13.2x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.64x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.55x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 49% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 6% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | 12% 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 is more ductile, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal stretches further before it breaks: 75% elongation at break against 12% for Aluminum 5052-H32.
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 5052-H32 expands less: 23.8 µm/m·K against 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.