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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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 PBT GF30
BASF Ultradur B 4300 G6 (PBT, 30% glass fibre), injection moulding grade; product information sheet 09/2026, typical values for uncoloured product at 23 °C.
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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
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Ultradur B 4300 G6 Product InformationBASFPlastic PBT GF30 · Ultimate tensile strength: stress at break, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Flexural strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Elongation at break: strain at break, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Density: typicalPlastic PBT GF30 · Thermal conductivity: typical (DIN 52612-1)Plastic PBT GF30 · Thermal expansion: longitudinal (flow), mean 23-55 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Specific heat: typical, 23 °CPlastic PBT GF30 · Melting point: DSC (ISO 11357)Plastic PBT GF30 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
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 PBT GF30?
Plastic PBT GF30 is stronger: its tensile strength is 140 MPa against yield strength 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (3.5x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PBT GF30?
Plastic PBT GF30 is lighter: 1,530 kg/m³ against 2,730 kg/m³ for Aluminum 3003-O.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PBT GF30?
Aluminum 3003-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 9.8 GPa for Plastic PBT GF30, 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 PBT GF30?
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 PBT GF30 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Plastic PBT GF30
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
3.95x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
49% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
7% heavier
Strong rod or tie
6.25x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
4.11x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
3.34x 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 Plastic PBT GF30?
Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 3% for Plastic PBT GF30.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PBT GF30?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 0.27 W/m·K for Plastic PBT GF30.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 3003-O expands less: 23.2 µm/m·K against 25 µm/m·K for Plastic PBT GF30.