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, BASF, Covestro
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.
Plastic Nylon PA66
BASF Ultramid A3K (PA66, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods)
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
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroPlastic Nylon PA66 · Poisson's ratio: base material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1)
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 Plastic Nylon PA66?
Plastic Nylon PA66 is stronger: its yield strength is 85 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (2.13x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic Nylon PA66?
Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 2,730 kg/m³ for Aluminum 3003-O.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic Nylon PA66?
Aluminum 3003-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 3 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA66, 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 Plastic Nylon PA66?
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; Plastic Nylon PA66 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Plastic Nylon PA66
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
9.52x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.99x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
18% heavier
Strong rod or tie
5.13x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
3.99x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
3.52x 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).
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic Nylon PA66?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 3003-O expands less: 23.2 µm/m·K against 98 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA66.