Aluminum 1100-O vs. Glass

Compare Aluminum 1100-O vs. Glass strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Mechanical
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Yield strength	35MPasourcetypical, O, 0.0625 in specimen	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	90MPasourcetypical, O	41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability
Flexural strength	not sourced	41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile)
Elongation at break	35%sourcetypical, O, in 4D	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPasourcetypical	72GPasourcetypical
Density	2,710kg/m³sourcenominal, 20 °C	2,500kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	12.9kN·m/kg	16.4kN·m/kg27% higher
Stiffness to weight	25.5MN·m/kg	28.8MN·m/kg13% higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.22sourcetypical
Shear modulus	not sourced	29.5GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	42.9GPa
Speed of sound	5,046m/s	5,367m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	222W/m·Ksourcetypical, O, 20 °C	0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F
Thermal expansion	23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C	8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	118µm growth	41.5µm growth2.84x less
Specific heat	901J/kg·Ksourcebase material: commercially pure aluminium EN AW-1050A (Hydro), 20 °C	880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	90.9mm²/s213x faster	0.426mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	50.1W/m
Melting point	640–655°Csourcemelting range	not sourced
Max service temperature	not sourced	511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit
Values for	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).	Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025)

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.

Questions

Is Aluminum 1100-O stronger than Glass?

Glass is stronger: its tensile strength is 41 MPa against yield strength 35 MPa for Aluminum 1100-O (17%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 1100-O or Glass?

Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 2,710 kg/m³ for Aluminum 1100-O.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 1100-O or Glass?

Glass is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 1100-O, so the same part in Glass deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 1100-O or Glass?

For the same stiffness or strength: Glass 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	Aluminum 1100-O	Glass
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	13% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	11% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	10% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	27% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	20% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	17% 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 Glass?

Aluminum 1100-O conducts heat better: 222 W/m·K against 0.937 W/m·K for Glass.

Which expands less with temperature?

Glass expands less: 8.3 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum 1100-O.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density