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 PTFE
Chemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape)
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
Teflon PTFE Fluoropolymer Resin Properties HandbookChemoursarchived copyPlastic PTFE · Yield strength: typical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8)Plastic PTFE · Poisson's ratio: typical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook)Plastic PTFE · Thermal conductivity: typical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimenPlastic PTFE · Thermal expansion: typical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228)Plastic PTFE · Specific heat: typical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591)
Teflon PTFE 6C X Product InformationChemoursarchived copyPlastic PTFE · Max service temperature: service temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement)
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 PTFE?
Aluminum 3003-O is stronger: its yield strength is 40 MPa against 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (4.44x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PTFE?
Plastic PTFE is lighter: 2,160 kg/m³ against 2,730 kg/m³ for Aluminum 3003-O.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PTFE?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 3003-O is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Plastic PTFE
Strong rod or tie
lighter
3.52x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
2.14x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
1.67x heavier
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 PTFE?
Plastic PTFE stretches further before it breaks: 350% elongation at break against 30% for Aluminum 3003-O.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Plastic PTFE?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 0.25 W/m·K for Plastic PTFE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 3003-O expands less: 23.2 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic PTFE.