Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic PMMA
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic PMMA 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 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 115MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | 5.5%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg1.5x higher | 67.2kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg9.72x higher | 2.77MN·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) | 0.37sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa22.5x stiffer in shear | 1.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 4.23GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 1,665m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth3.5x less | 350µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s394x faster | 0.109mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m333x more resistant | 41.5W/m |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature |
| 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 | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) |
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 PMMA?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against tensile strength 80 MPa for Plastic PMMA (3.38x).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic PMMA?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 3.3 GPa for Plastic PMMA, 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 PMMA?
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 PMMA is lighter for a strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum | Plastic PMMA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 9.72x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.08x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 25% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.5x heavier |
| Strong beam | about equal | about equal |
| Strong panel or plate | 22% 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 PMMA?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 70 µm/m·K for Plastic PMMA.