1100-O (annealed) commercially pure aluminium, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 1100 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from Hydro EN AW-1050A (99.5% Al) extruded-products datasheet (10/2018).
Bambu Lab ASA, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y; nozzle 260 °C, bed 80 °C, 200 mm/s, 100% infill; annealed and dried 80 °C for 12 h before testing.
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.
FDM ASA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum 1100-O stronger than FDM ASA?
FDM ASA is stronger: its tensile strength is 37 MPa against yield strength 35 MPa for Aluminum 1100-O (6%).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 1100-O or FDM ASA?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 2,710 kg/m³ for Aluminum 1100-O.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 1100-O or FDM ASA?
Aluminum 1100-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Aluminum 1100-O deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 1100-O or FDM ASA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 1100-O is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; FDM ASA is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 1100-O
FDM ASA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
10.9x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
2.06x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
18% heavier
Strong rod or tie
2.73x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
2.68x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
2.65x 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, Aluminum 1100-O or FDM ASA?
Aluminum 1100-O conducts heat better: 222 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 1100-O expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.