Materials / Compare
Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic ABS
Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Plastic ABS 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 | 324MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | 38.1MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 469MPasourcetypical | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 61.1MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 19%sourcetypical, in 4D | 4.6%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 73.1GPasourcetypical37.3x stiffer | 1.96GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,770kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 117kN·m/kg3.38x higher | 34.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.4MN·m/kg14.8x higher | 1.78MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 27.5GPa38.9x stiffer in shear | 0.706GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 71.7GPa | 2.97GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,137m/s | 1,336m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 115µm growth4.15x less | 475µm growth |
| Specific heat | 875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 49.5mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 15,561W/m734x more resistant | 21.2W/m |
| Melting point | 502–638°Csourcemelting range | not sourced |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 101°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) |
| Values for | 2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Ultimaker ABS, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); 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 v5.00, 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 ABS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum 2024-T351 stronger than Plastic ABS?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (8.5x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic ABS?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,770 kg/m³ for Aluminum 2024-T351.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic ABS?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stiffer: Young's modulus 73.1 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Aluminum 2024-T351 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic ABS?
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 | Plastic ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 14.8x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.42x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 33% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 3.38x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.65x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 16% 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, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Plastic ABS?
Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 2024-T351 expands less: 22.9 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.