Aluminum 3003-O vs. Plastic PPS GF40

Compare Aluminum 3003-O vs. Plastic PPS GF40 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic PPS GF40Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Aluminum 3003-O	Plastic PPS GF40
Yield strength	40MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	110MPa1	tensile strength195MPa21.77x stronger
Flexural strength	not sourced	285MPa2
Elongation at break	30%115.8x more ductile	strain at break1.9%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPa14.69x stiffer	14.7GPa2
Density	2,730kg/m³1	1,650kg/m³21.65x lighter
Strength to weight	14.7kN·m/kg	118kN·m/kg8.07x higher
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg2.84x higher	8.91MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.353
Shear modulus	not sourced	5.44GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	16.3GPa
Speed of sound	5,027m/s1.68x faster	2,985m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum 3003-O	Plastic PPS GF40
Thermal conductivity	193W/m·K1965x more heat through a fin	0.2W/m·K3
Thermal expansion	23.2µm/m·K1	parallel12µm/m·K21.93x less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	116µm growth	60µm growth1.93x less
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	144W/m
Melting point	melting range640–655°C1	DSC280°C2
Glass transition	not sourced	DSC90°C2
Max service temperature	not sourced	HDT 1.8 MPa270°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources3 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Celanese

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 PPS GF40: Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).

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
Fortron PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012)CelanesePlastic PPS GF40 · Ultimate tensile strength: tensile strength, 5 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Flexural strength: flexural strength at breakPlastic PPS GF40 · Elongation at break: strain at break, 5 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 1 mm/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Density: typicalPlastic PPS GF40 · Thermal expansion: parallel (flow), mean -50 to 90 °CPlastic PPS GF40 · Melting point: DSC, 10 °C/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Glass transition: DSC, 10 °C/minPlastic PPS GF40 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
3
Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050)CelanesePlastic PPS GF40 · Poisson's ratio: glass-reinforced Fortron PPS (class value, not grade-specific)Plastic PPS GF40 · Thermal conductivity: 40% glass-reinforced Fortron, 25 °C (not grade-specific)

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 PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is stronger: its tensile strength is 195 MPa against yield strength 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (4.88x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter: 1,650 kg/m³ against 2,730 kg/m³ for Aluminum 3003-O.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PPS GF40?

Aluminum 3003-O is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 14.7 GPa for Plastic PPS GF40, 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 PPS GF40?

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 PPS GF40 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 3003-O	Plastic PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	2.84x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	31% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	1% heavier
Strong rod or tie	8.07x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	4.76x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	3.65x 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 PPS GF40?

Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 1.9% for Plastic PPS GF40.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PPS GF40?

Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic PPS GF40 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 23.2 µm/m·K for Aluminum 3003-O.