Materials / Compare

Aluminum 7050-T7451 vs. FDM Polycarbonate

Compare Aluminum 7050-T7451 vs. FDM Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side
Aluminum 7050-T7451Wrought
FDM Polycarbonate3D printed (FDM)
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strength469MPasourcetypical, longitudinal, 0.2% offset53.3MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength524MPasourcetypical, longitudinal53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strengthnot sourced89.4MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break11%sourcetypical, longitudinal9.2%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)70.3GPasourcetypical29.4x stiffer2.39GPasourcetypical
Density2,830kg/m³sourcenominal1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange
Strength to weight166kN·m/kg3.7x higher44.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight24.8MN·m/kg12.3x higher2.01MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus26.4GPa30.5x stiffer in shear0.867GPa
Bulk modulus68.9GPa3.33GPa
Speed of sound4,984m/s1,418m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity157W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C
Thermal expansion23.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing118µm growth2.77x less325µm growth
Specific heat860J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)64.5mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance29,862W/m703x more resistant42.5W/m
Melting point524–635°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced108°Csourcetypical
Max service temperaturenot sourced105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
Values for7050-T7451 plate, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet (longitudinal); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JUltimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.

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.

FDM Polycarbonate is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Aluminum 7050-T7451 stronger than FDM Polycarbonate?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 is stronger: its yield strength is 469 MPa against 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (8.8x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 2,830 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7050-T7451.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or FDM Polycarbonate?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70.3 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, 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 FDM Polycarbonate?

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, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 7050-T7451FDM Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter12.3x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.28x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter30% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter3.7x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.79x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter25% 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 7050-T7451 or FDM Polycarbonate?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 conducts heat better: 157 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 expands less: 23.5 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for FDM 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 5052-H32Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelAluminum 7050-T7451FDM 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 5052-H32Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM 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-T7451FDM Polycarbonate
Strength against density

Related comparisons