Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser
Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Copper Development Association, U.S. Department of Defense, Wieland
Aluminum 2024-T351
2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Copper C10100
C10100 oxygen-free electronic (OFE) copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.04 in. flat products, copper.org typical values
1
Alloy 2024 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 2024-T351 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum 2024-T351 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 2024-T351 · Elongation at break: typical, in 4DAluminum 2024-T351 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 2024-T351 · Density: nominalAluminum 2024-T351 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CAluminum 2024-T351 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 2024-T351 · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum 2024-T351 · Melting point: melting range
2
C10100 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C10100 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C10100 · Density: nominalCopper C10100 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C10100 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Melting point: melting point (liquidus = solidus, pure copper)
3
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum 2024-T351 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant), all tempers
4
Wieland-K09 (Cu-OFE, C10100) Data SheetWielandCopper C10100 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K09 = Cu-OFE = C10100, rolled products)
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Aluminum 2024-T351 stronger than Copper C10100?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C10100 (4.7x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C10100?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is lighter: 2,770 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C10100?
Copper C10100 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 73.1 GPa for Aluminum 2024-T351, so the same part in Copper C10100 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C10100?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 2024-T351 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 2024-T351
Copper C10100
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.01x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
2.55x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2.76x heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
15.2x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
9.05x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
6.99x 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 is more ductile, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C10100?
Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 19% for Aluminum 2024-T351.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Copper C10100?
Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 120 W/m·K for Aluminum 2024-T351.
Which expands less with temperature?
Copper C10100 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 22.9 µm/m·K for Aluminum 2024-T351.