Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 | 270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Elongation at break | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 930kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg4.7x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg38x higher | 0.71MN·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) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth10x less | 1,000µm growth |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | not sourced | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating 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 | 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.
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 UHMWPE?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (13.5x).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 2,670 kg/m³ for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Plastic UHMWPE?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, 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 UHMWPE?
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 UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 38x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 3.64x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.66x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 4.7x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.97x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 28% 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 UHMWPE?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.