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 PMMA
Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1)
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
PLEXIGLAS GS and XT Technical Information (Ref. No. 211-1)Röhmarchived copyPlastic PMMA · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic PMMA · Compressive strength: compressive yield stress, typicalPlastic PMMA · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic PMMA · Elongation at break: typicalPlastic PMMA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, short-termPlastic PMMA · Density: typicalPlastic PMMA · Poisson's ratio: typicalPlastic PMMA · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic PMMA · Thermal expansion: 0-50 °CPlastic PMMA · Specific heat: typicalPlastic PMMA · Max service temperature: max. permanent service temperature
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 PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against yield strength 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (2x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 2,730 kg/m³ for Aluminum 3003-O.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PMMA?
Aluminum 3003-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 3.3 GPa for Plastic PMMA, 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 PMMA?
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 PMMA is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Plastic PMMA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
9.11x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.99x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
20% heavier
Strong rod or tie
4.59x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
3.64x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
3.24x 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 PMMA?
Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 5.5% for Plastic PMMA.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PMMA?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 3003-O expands less: 23.2 µm/m·K against 70 µm/m·K for Plastic PMMA.