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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Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Niagara LaSalle, U.S. Department of Defense, Ovako
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.
Steel AISI 1018
AISI 1018 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle, cold-finished bar producer)
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
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseSteel AISI 1018 · Young's modulus (stiffness): base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Density: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Poisson's ratio: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Thermal conductivity: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Specific heat: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)
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S275JR Steel GradeOvakoSteel AISI 1018 · Thermal expansion: base material: unalloyed carbon steel, Ovako family table (S275JR, 'none alloyed structural steels', C <= 0.21%); mean 20-300 °C
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 Steel AISI 1018?
Steel AISI 1018 is stronger: its yield strength is 372 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (9.3x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1018?
Aluminum 3003-O is lighter: 2,730 kg/m³ against 7,861 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1018.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1018?
Steel AISI 1018 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 3003-O, so the same part in Steel AISI 1018 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1018?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 3003-O is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Steel AISI 1018 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Steel AISI 1018
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
about equal
about equal
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.69x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2.02x heavier
Strong rod or tie
3.23x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.54x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
6% 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 Steel AISI 1018?
Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 15% for Steel AISI 1018.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1018?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 51.9 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1018.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 1018 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 23.2 µm/m·K for Aluminum 3003-O.