Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic PEEK
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic PEEK 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 | 98MPasourcetypical, tensile yield |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | not sourced |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 125MPasourcetypical, 23 C |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 165MPasourcetypical, flexural stress at yield, 23 C |
| Elongation at break | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | 25%sourcetypical, at break |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) | 4GPasourcetypical (nominal) |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 1,300kg/m³sourcetypical (crystalline) |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg34% higher | 75.4kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg8.76x higher | 3.08MN·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) | 0.38sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa18.7x stiffer in shear | 1.45GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 5.56GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 1,754m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 0.29W/m·Ksourcetypical, average, 23 C |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 55µm/m·Ksourceaverage of flow/cross-flow, below Tg (<143 C) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth2.75x less | 275µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | 2,200J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 23 °C, DSC (Victrex PEEK 450G TDS, revision Jul 2012) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s422x faster | 0.101mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m173x more resistant | 80.1W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 343°Csourcetypical, DSC |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 143°Csourceonset (midpoint 150 C) |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 240°CsourceUL 746B RTI, mechanical strength (continuous use index) |
| 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 | Victrex PEEK 450G (unreinforced, injection moulded), Victrex TDS rev. March 2026; Poisson from Victrex fluid-management flyer (2020-07) |
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 PEEK?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 98 MPa for Plastic PEEK (2.76x).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic PEEK?
Plastic PEEK is lighter: 1,300 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic PEEK?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 4 GPa for Plastic PEEK, 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 PEEK?
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; Plastic PEEK is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum | Plastic PEEK |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 8.76x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.07x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 28% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 34% heavier |
| Strong beam | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 24% heavier | lighter |
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 PEEK?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 0.29 W/m·K for Plastic PEEK.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 55 µm/m·K for Plastic PEEK.