Materials / Compare

Aluminum 3003-O vs. Brass C260

Compare Aluminum 3003-O vs. Brass C260 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Aluminum 3003-OWrought
Brass C260Wrought
MechanicalAluminum 3003-OBrass C260
Yield strength40MPa1345MPa28.63x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength110MPa1427MPa23.88x stronger
Elongation at break30%130% more ductile23%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)69GPa1110GPa31.6x stiffer
Density2,730kg/m³13.12x lighter8,525kg/m³3
Strength to weight14.7kN·m/kg40.5kN·m/kg2.76x higher
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg1.95x higher12.9MN·m/kg
Poisson's rationot sourced0.344
Shear modulusnot sourced41.2GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced115GPa
Speed of sound5,027m/s40% faster3,597m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VNickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 3003-OBrass C260
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VNickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 3003-OBrass C260
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalAluminum 3003-OBrass C260
Thermal conductivity193W/m·K11.59x more heat through a fin121W/m·K3
Thermal expansion23.2µm/m·K120µm/m·K316% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing116µm growth100µm growth16% less
Specific heatnot sourced377J/kg·K3
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced37.7mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced12,510W/m
Melting pointmelting range640–655°C1solidus-liquidus916–954°C3
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VNickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 3003-OBrass C260
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VNickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 3003-OBrass C260
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Copper Development Association, Wieland
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.
Brass C260
C26000 cartridge brass, H02 half hard flat/strip: CDA Electronic Connector Design Guide (mechanical) + CDA alloy page (physical)
  1. 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. 2
    Electronic Connector Design Guide: Cold Rolled TempersCopper Development Associationarchived copyBrass C260 · Yield strength: nominal, strip/flat, 0.5% extension (not 0.2% offset)Brass C260 · Ultimate tensile strength: nominal, strip/flatBrass C260 · Elongation at break: nominal, in 2.0 in., strip/flat
  3. 3
    C26000 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyBrass C260 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, temper-independentBrass C260 · Density: nominalBrass C260 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CBrass C260 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-300 °CBrass C260 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CBrass C260 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
  4. 4
    Wieland-M30 (CuZn30, C26000) Data SheetWielandarchived copyBrass C260 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-M30 = CuZn30 = C26000, 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 3003-O stronger than Brass C260?

Brass C260 is stronger: its yield strength is 345 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (8.63x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Brass C260?

Aluminum 3003-O is lighter: 2,730 kg/m³ against 8,525 kg/m³ for Brass C260.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Brass C260?

Brass C260 is stiffer: Young's modulus 110 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 3003-O, so the same part in Brass C260 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 3003-O or Brass C260?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 3003-O is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Brass C260 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must beAluminum 3003-OBrass C260
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter1.95x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.47x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.67x heavier
Strong rod or tie2.76x heavierlighter
Strong beam35% heavierlighter
Strong panel or platelighter6% 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 3003-O or Brass C260?

Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 23% for Brass C260.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Brass C260?

Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 121 W/m·K for Brass C260.

Which expands less with temperature?

Brass C260 expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 23.2 µm/m·K for Aluminum 3003-O.

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