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 PEEK
Victrex PEEK 450G (unreinforced, injection moulded), Victrex TDS rev. March 2026; Poisson from Victrex fluid-management flyer (2020-07)
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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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VICTREX PEEK 450G Technical Data SheetVictrexPlastic PEEK · Yield strength: typical, tensile yieldPlastic PEEK · Compressive strength: typical, 23 CPlastic PEEK · Flexural strength: typical, flexural stress at yield, 23 CPlastic PEEK · Elongation at break: typical, at breakPlastic PEEK · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical (nominal)Plastic PEEK · Density: typical (crystalline)Plastic PEEK · Thermal conductivity: typical, average, 23 CPlastic PEEK · Thermal expansion: average of flow/cross-flow, below Tg (<143 C)Plastic PEEK · Melting point: typical, DSCPlastic PEEK · Glass transition: onset (midpoint 150 C)Plastic PEEK · Max service temperature: UL 746B RTI, mechanical strength (continuous use index)
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VICTREX PEEK for Use in Fluid Management (2020)VictrexPlastic PEEK · Poisson's ratio: typical
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VICTREX PEEK 450G Technical Data Sheet (2012)Victrexarchived copyPlastic PEEK · Specific heat: typical, 23 °C, DSC (Victrex PEEK 450G TDS, revision Jul 2012)
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 PEEK?
Plastic PEEK is stronger: its yield strength is 98 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (2.45x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PEEK?
Plastic PEEK is lighter: 1,300 kg/m³ against 2,730 kg/m³ for Aluminum 3003-O.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PEEK?
Aluminum 3003-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 4 GPa for Plastic PEEK, 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 PEEK?
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 PEEK is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Plastic PEEK
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
8.21x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.98x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
23% heavier
Strong rod or tie
5.14x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
3.82x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
3.29x 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 PEEK?
Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 25% for Plastic PEEK.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PEEK?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 0.29 W/m·K for Plastic PEEK.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 3003-O expands less: 23.2 µm/m·K against 55 µm/m·K for Plastic PEEK.