Materials / Compare

Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Ceramic Aluminum Nitride

Compare Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Ceramic Aluminum Nitride strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 6061-T6Wrought
Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
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Mechanical
Yield strength276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimennot sourced
Ultimate tensile strength310MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Flexural strengthnot sourced310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)
Elongation at break17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimennot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)68.3GPasourcetypical320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)
Density2,700kg/m³sourcenominal3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)
Strength to weight102kN·m/kgnot sourced
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg94.1MN·m/kg3.72x higher
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)
Shear modulus25.7GPa129GPa5.03x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus67GPa205GPa
Speed of sound5,030m/s9,701m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)
Thermal expansion23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing118µm growth23µm growth5.13x less
Specific heat896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)69mm²/s11% faster62.1mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance19,159W/mnot sourced
Melting point582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidusnot sourced
Values for6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JKYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03

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

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Ceramic Aluminum Nitride?

Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 3,400 kg/m³ for Ceramic Aluminum Nitride.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Ceramic Aluminum Nitride?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum 6061-T6, so the same part in Ceramic Aluminum Nitride deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Ceramic Aluminum Nitride?

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

Part that must beAluminum 6061-T6Ceramic Aluminum Nitride
Stiff rod or tie (tension)3.72x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.72x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate33% 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 6061-T6 or Ceramic Aluminum Nitride?

Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 150 W/m·K for Ceramic Aluminum Nitride.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6061-T6.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic 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 SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6061-T6Ceramic Aluminum Nitride
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic 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 SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6061-T6
Strength against density

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