Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic HDPE
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic HDPE 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 | 270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | not sourced |
| 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) | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg4x higher | 25.3kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg28.5x higher | 0.947MN·m/kg |
| 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) | 0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa85.7x stiffer in shear | 0.316GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 2GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 973m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth6x less | 600µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s205x faster | 0.208mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m243x more resistant | 56.9W/m |
| 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 | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values |
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 Plastic HDPE?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (11.3x).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic HDPE?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, 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 Plastic HDPE?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 | DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum | Plastic HDPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 28.5x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 3.18x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.53x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 4x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.79x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 19% 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 Plastic HDPE?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 0.445 W/m·K for Plastic HDPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.