Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources3 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, U.S. Department of Defense
Aluminum 3003-O
3003-O (annealed) aluminium-manganese alloy, the heat-exchanger tube and brazing alloy, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 3003 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from the NIST cryogenic 3003-F fit at 293 K.
Aluminum 6061-T6
6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
1
Alloy 3003 Tube & Pipe Technical Data, Rev. 05/06Kaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 3003-O · Yield strength: typical, O, 0.0625 in specimenAluminum 3003-O · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, OAluminum 3003-O · Elongation at break: typical, O, in 4DAluminum 3003-O · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 3003-O · Density: nominal, 20 °CAluminum 3003-O · Thermal conductivity: typical, O, 20 °CAluminum 3003-O · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 3003-O · Melting point: melting range
2
Alloy 6061 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 6061-T6 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum 6061-T6 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 6061-T6 · Elongation at break: typical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimenAluminum 6061-T6 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 6061-T6 · Density: nominalAluminum 6061-T6 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CAluminum 6061-T6 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 6061-T6 · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum 6061-T6 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
3
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum 6061-T6 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)
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 3003-O stronger than Aluminum 6061-T6?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (6.9x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 6061-T6?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 2,730 kg/m³ for Aluminum 3003-O.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 6061-T6?
Aluminum 3003-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum 6061-T6, so the same part in Aluminum 3003-O deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 6061-T6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Aluminum 6061-T6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
about equal
about equal
Stiff beam (bending)
about equal
about equal
Stiff panel or plate
about equal
about equal
Strong rod or tie
6.98x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
3.66x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
2.66x 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 is more ductile, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 6061-T6?
Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 17% for Aluminum 6061-T6.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 6061-T6?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 167 W/m·K for Aluminum 6061-T6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 3003-O expands less: 23.2 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6061-T6.