Materials / Compare
Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Glass
Compare Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Glass strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 310MPasourcetypical | 41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile) |
| Elongation at break | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 68.3GPasourcetypical | 72GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,700kg/m³sourcenominal | 2,500kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 102kN·m/kg6.23x higher | 16.4kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg | 28.8MN·m/kg14% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | 0.22sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 25.7GPa | 29.5GPa15% stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 67GPa | 42.9GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,030m/s | 5,367m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F |
| Thermal expansion | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 118µm growth | 41.5µm growth2.84x less |
| Specific heat | 896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 69mm²/s162x faster | 0.426mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 19,159W/m382x more resistant | 50.1W/m |
| Melting point | 582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit |
| Values for | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025) |
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 6061-T6 stronger than Glass?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against tensile strength 41 MPa for Glass (6.73x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Glass?
Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6061-T6.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Glass?
Glass is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum 6061-T6, so the same part in Glass deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Glass?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Glass is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum 6061-T6 | Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 14% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 11% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 10% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 6.23x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 3.3x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.4x 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 6061-T6 or Glass?
Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.937 W/m·K for Glass.
Which expands less with temperature?
Glass expands less: 8.3 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6061-T6.