Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Glass
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 | 270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 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 | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) | 72GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 2,500kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg6.17x higher | 16.4kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg | 28.8MN·m/kg7% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000) | 0.22sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa | 29.5GPa9% stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 42.9GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 5,367m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth | 41.5µm growth2.41x less |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s100x faster | 0.426mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m276x more resistant | 50.1W/m |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit |
| Values for | EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10 | 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.
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum stronger than Glass?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against tensile strength 41 MPa for Glass (6.59x).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Glass?
Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Glass?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 72 GPa for Glass, so the same part in DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Glass?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 | DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum | Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 7% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 7% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 7% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 6.17x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 3.29x 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, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Glass?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 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 20 µm/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.