Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Silicon

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

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SiliconGrown single crystal

Mechanical
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Yield strength	195MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	230MPasourcetypical	130MPasourcemodulus of rupture (bending fracture stress); brittle, no yield point
Flexural strength	not sourced	130MPasourcemodulus of rupture
Elongation at break	12%sourcetypical	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	70GPasourcetypical	131GPasourcetypical (single quoted value of an anisotropic crystal)
Density	2,685kg/m³sourcenominal	2,329kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	72.6kN·m/kg30% higher	55.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	26.1MN·m/kg	56.2MN·m/kg2.16x higher
Poisson's ratio	0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)	0.221sourcetypical
Shear modulus	26.3GPa	53.6GPa2.04x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	68.6GPa	78.3GPa
Speed of sound	5,106m/s	7,500m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	138W/m·Ksourcebase material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typical	163W/m·Ksourcetypical at 313 K (40 °C)
Thermal expansion	23.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C	2.62µm/m·Ksourcetypical at 300 K
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	119µm growth	13.1µm growth9.08x less
Specific heat	963J/kg·Ksourceat 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38	732J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	53.4mm²/s	95.6mm²/s1.79x faster
Thermal shock resistance	10,822W/m	48,095W/m4.44x more resistant
Melting point	605–650°Csourcemelting range	1,412°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	300°Csourceproducer's maximum application temperature (optical components)
Values for	5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)	Synthetic single-crystal silicon (cubic, diamond structure), Korth Kristalle (crystal grower) material data; Korth usually supplies Floating Zone (FZ) material, Czochralski (Cz) also offered. Silicon is elastically anisotropic; the producer quotes one modulus and the solver is isotropic.

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 Silicon?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against tensile strength 130 MPa for Silicon (1.5x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Silicon?

Silicon is lighter: 2,329 kg/m³ against 2,685 kg/m³ for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Silicon?

Silicon is stiffer: Young's modulus 131 GPa against 70 GPa for Aluminum 5052-H32, so the same part in Silicon deflects less under the same load.

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

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

Part that must be	Aluminum 5052-H32	Silicon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	2.16x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	1.58x heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	42% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	30% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	14% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	6% 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 conducts heat better, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Silicon?

Silicon conducts heat better: 163 W/m·K against 138 W/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which expands less with temperature?

Silicon expands less: 2.62 µm/m·K against 23.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density