Materials / Compare
Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Plastic POM/Acetal
Compare Aluminum 6061-T6 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 | 276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | 69MPasourcetypical (single ASTM D638 tensile strength) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 310MPasourcetypical4.49x stronger | 69MPasourcetypical |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 124MPasourcecompressive stress at 10% deformation |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 99MPasourceflexural yield strength, typical |
| Elongation at break | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen | 75%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 68.3GPasourcetypical24.4x stiffer | 2.8GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,700kg/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 | 102kN·m/kg2.1x higher | 48.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg12.8x higher | 1.97MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | 0.35sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 25.7GPa24.8x stiffer in shear | 1.04GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 67GPa | 3.11GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,030m/s | 1,404m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 122µm/m·Ksourcemean, 29 to 60 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 118µm growth5.17x less | 610µm growth |
| Specific heat | 896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 1,465J/kg·Ksourceaverage -18 to 100 °C, Delrin acetal resins (not grade-specific) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 69mm²/s359x faster | 0.192mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 19,159W/m365x more resistant | 52.5W/m |
| Melting point | 582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | 175°Csourcecrystalline melting point |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 125°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed) |
| Values for | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | 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 6061-T6 stronger than Plastic POM/Acetal?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 69 MPa for Plastic POM/Acetal (4x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Plastic POM/Acetal is lighter: 1,420 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6061-T6.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 2.8 GPa for Plastic POM/Acetal, so the same part in Aluminum 6061-T6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Plastic POM/Acetal?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6061-T6 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 be | Aluminum 6061-T6 | Plastic POM/Acetal |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 12.8x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.6x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.53x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.1x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 33% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 5% 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 Plastic POM/Acetal?
Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 6061-T6 expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 122 µm/m·K for Plastic POM/Acetal.