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, Cleveland-Cliffs, National Institute of Standards and Technology
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.
Iron
Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal.
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
ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (2022)Cleveland-Cliffsarchived copyIron · Yield strength: typical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Elongation at break: typical, gauge 4D0Iron · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, after SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Density: typicalIron · Thermal conductivity: typical at 20 °CIron · Thermal expansion: mean, 20-399 °CIron · Specific heat: typicalIron · Melting point: typical
3
Elastic Properties of Metals and Alloys, I. Iron, Nickel, and Iron-Nickel Alloys, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 2 (1973)National Institute of Standards and Technologyarchived copyIron · Poisson's ratio: NIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron)
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 Iron?
Iron is stronger: its yield strength is 186 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (4.65x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Iron?
Aluminum 3003-O is lighter: 2,730 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 3003-O, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 3003-O or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 3003-O is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Iron is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Iron
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
4% heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.66x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2x heavier
Strong rod or tie
1.62x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
lighter
3% heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
34% 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 Iron?
Iron stretches further before it breaks: 38% elongation at break against 30% for Aluminum 3003-O.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Iron?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 73.2 W/m·K for Iron.
Which expands less with temperature?
Iron expands less: 13.7 µm/m·K against 23.2 µm/m·K for Aluminum 3003-O.