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Aluminum 7050-T7451 vs. Plastic Nylon PA6

Compare Aluminum 7050-T7451 vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 7050-T7451Wrought
Plastic Nylon PA6Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength469MPasourcetypical, longitudinal, 0.2% offset90MPasourcetypical, dry
Ultimate tensile strength524MPasourcetypical, longitudinalnot sourced
Elongation at break11%sourcetypical, longitudinal10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry
Young's modulus (stiffness)70.3GPasourcetypical3.5GPasourcetypical, dry
Density2,830kg/m³sourcenominal1,130kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight166kN·m/kg2.08x higher79.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight24.8MN·m/kg8.02x higher3.1MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
Shear modulus26.4GPa21.1x stiffer in shear1.25GPa
Bulk modulus68.9GPa5.83GPa
Speed of sound4,984m/s1,760m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity157W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion23.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing118µm growth4.34x less510µm growth
Specific heat860J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)64.5mm²/s376x faster0.172mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance29,862W/m598x more resistant49.9W/m
Melting point524–635°Csourcemelting range220°CsourceDSC
Max service temperaturenot sourced87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h
Values for7050-T7451 plate, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet (longitudinal); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JBASF 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 7050-T7451 stronger than Plastic Nylon PA6?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 is stronger: its yield strength is 469 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (5.21x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 2,830 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7050-T7451.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70.3 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, so the same part in Aluminum 7050-T7451 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Plastic Nylon PA6?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 7050-T7451 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam; Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 7050-T7451Plastic Nylon PA6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter8.02x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.79x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter9% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter2.08x heavier
Strong beamlighter20% heavier
Strong panel or plate10% 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 7050-T7451 or Plastic Nylon PA6?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 conducts heat better: 157 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 expands less: 23.5 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.

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 5052-H32Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic 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 7050-T7451Plastic Nylon PA6
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 5052-H32Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic 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 7050-T7451Plastic Nylon PA6
Strength against density

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