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Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)

Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 5052-H32Wrought
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength195MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C
Ultimate tensile strength230MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Flexural strengthnot sourced65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C
Elongation at break12%sourcetypical10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C
Young's modulus (stiffness)70GPasourcetypical30.4x stiffer2.3GPasourcetypical
Density2,685kg/m³sourcenominal1,040kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight72.6kN·m/kg1.68x higher43.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.1MN·m/kg11.8x higher2.21MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus26.3GPa31.8x stiffer in shear0.827GPa
Bulk modulus68.6GPa3.48GPa
Speed of sound5,106m/s1,487m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity138W/m·Ksourcebase material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typical0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion23.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing119µm growth3.99x less475µm growth
Specific heat963J/kg·Ksourceat 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)53.4mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance10,822W/m507x more resistant21.4W/m
Melting point605–650°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Max service temperaturenot sourced94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)
Values for5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)

Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Is Aluminum 5052-H32 stronger than Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (4.33x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 2,685 kg/m³ for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in Aluminum 5052-H32 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

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; Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 5052-H32Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter11.8x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.14x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter21% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.68x heavier
Strong beamlighter3% heavier
Strong panel or plate24% heavierlighter

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 conducts heat better, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 5052-H32 expands less: 23.8 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelAluminum 5052-H32Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickAluminum 5052-H32Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Strength against density

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