Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Copper C12200

Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Copper C12200 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 5052-H32	Copper C12200
Yield strength	195MPa12.83x stronger	69MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	230MPa1	221MPa2
Elongation at break	12%1	45%23.75x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	70GPa1	117GPa21.67x stiffer
Density	2,685kg/m³33.33x lighter	8,941kg/m³2
Strength to weight	72.6kN·m/kg9.41x higher	7.72kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	26.1MN·m/kg1.99x higher	13.1MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.333	0.344
Shear modulus	26.3GPa	43.7GPa1.66x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	68.6GPa	122GPa1.78x higher
Speed of sound	5,106m/s41% faster	3,621m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum 5052-H32	Copper C12200
Thermal conductivity	base material138W/m·K1	339W/m·K22.46x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	23.8µm/m·K1	16.9µm/m·K241% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	119µm growth	84.5µm growth41% less
Specific heat	at 100 °C963J/kg·K32.5x higher	385J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	53.4mm²/s	98.5mm²/s1.85x faster
Thermal shock resistance	10,822W/m39% more resistant	7,799W/m
Melting point	melting range605–650°C1	liquidus1,083°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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Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Copper Development Association, U.S. Department of Defense, Wieland

Aluminum 5052-H32: 5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)
Copper C12200: C12200 phosphorus-deoxidized copper (DHP, the air-conditioning and refrigeration tube copper), tube annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.065 in. wall, copper.org typical values

1
Alloy 5052 Tube & Pipe Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 5052-H32 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offsetAluminum 5052-H32 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Elongation at break: typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Thermal conductivity: base material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 5052-H32 · Melting point: melting range
2
C12200 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C12200 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C12200 · Density: nominalCopper C12200 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C12200 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Melting point: liquidus
3
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum 5052-H32 · Density: nominalAluminum 5052-H32 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)Aluminum 5052-H32 · Specific heat: at 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38
4
Wieland-K19 (Cu-DHP, C12200) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C12200 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K19 = Cu-DHP = C12200, rolled products)

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 5052-H32 stronger than Copper C12200?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C12200 (2.83x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Copper C12200?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter: 2,685 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Copper C12200?

Copper C12200 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 70 GPa for Aluminum 5052-H32, so the same part in Copper C12200 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Copper C12200?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 5052-H32	Copper C12200
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	1.99x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2.57x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2.8x heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	9.41x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	6.66x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	5.6x 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 5052-H32 or Copper C12200?

Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 12% for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Copper C12200?

Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 138 W/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which expands less with temperature?

Copper C12200 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 23.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.