Materials / Compare
Aluminum 7075-T6 vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare Aluminum 7075-T6 vs. Plastic UHMWPE 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 | 503MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 572MPasourcetypical | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Elongation at break | 11%sourcetypical, in 4D | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 71GPasourcetypical | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 2,800kg/m³sourcenominal | 930kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 180kN·m/kg8.35x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.4MN·m/kg35.7x higher | 0.71MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 26.7GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 69.6GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 5,036m/s | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 130W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, T651 | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 23.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 117µm growth8.55x less | 1,000µm growth |
| Specific heat | 960J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 48.4mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 26,370W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | 532–635°Csourcemelting range | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature |
| Values for | 7075-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum rod & bar (mechanical) and sheet/coil/plate (physical) typical datasheets; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Celanese GUR 4120 (avg. molecular weight 4.7x10^6 g/mol), typical values on compression-molded specimens; CTE and thermal conductivity from Celanese's generic UHMWPE guide (grade not named) |
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 7075-T6 stronger than Plastic UHMWPE?
Aluminum 7075-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 503 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (25.1x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 2,800 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7075-T6.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Plastic UHMWPE?
Aluminum 7075-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 71 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Aluminum 7075-T6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Plastic UHMWPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 7075-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 7075-T6 | Plastic UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 35.7x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 3.44x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.58x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 8.35x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.85x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.67x 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 7075-T6 or Plastic UHMWPE?
Aluminum 7075-T6 conducts heat better: 130 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 7075-T6 expands less: 23.4 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.