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).
Ultimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS dated April 20, 2022.
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.
Plastic PLA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum 1100-O stronger than Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is stronger: its yield strength is 52.5 MPa against 35 MPa for Aluminum 1100-O (1.5x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 1100-O or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 2,710 kg/m³ for Aluminum 1100-O.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 1100-O or Plastic PLA?
Aluminum 1100-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, 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 Plastic PLA?
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; Plastic PLA is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 1100-O
Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
9.71x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
2.11x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
27% heavier
Strong rod or tie
3.28x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
2.86x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
2.68x 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 Plastic PLA?
Aluminum 1100-O conducts heat better: 222 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.