Materials / Compare

Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Ceramic Alumina 96%

Compare Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Ceramic Alumina 96% strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 6063-T6Wrought
Ceramic Alumina 96%Sintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
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Mechanical
Yield strength215MPasourcetypical, T6, 0.0625 in specimennot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength240MPasourcetypical, T6221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4)
Compressive strengthnot sourced2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773)
Flexural strengthnot sourced358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417)
Elongation at break12%sourcetypical, T6, in 4Dnot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)69GPasourcetypical303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)
Density2,700kg/m³sourcenominal, 20 °C3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20)
Strength to weight79.6kN·m/kg34% higher59.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.6MN·m/kg81.5MN·m/kg3.19x higher
Poisson's rationot sourced0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)
Shear modulusnot sourced125GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced174GPa
Speed of sound5,055m/s9,025m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity201W/m·Ksourcetypical, T6, 20 °C24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408)
Thermal expansion23.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing117µm growth41µm growth2.85x less
Specific heat901J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (Hydro EN AW-6063)880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)82.6mm²/s11x faster7.55mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced1,736W/m
Melting point615–655°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Values for6063-T6 extruded tube, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 6063 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from Hydro EN AW-6063 extruded-products datasheet (Rev.4, 03/2023).CoorsTek AD-96, nominal 96% Al2O3 sintered alumina, typical values; CoorsTek "Ceramic Seal Material Properties" (© 2018, 01899 F). AD-96 is the general 96% grade, not the ADS-96R substrate grade.

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 6063-T6 stronger than Ceramic Alumina 96%?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stronger: its tensile strength is 221 MPa against yield strength 215 MPa for Aluminum 6063-T6 (3%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Ceramic Alumina 96%?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 3,720 kg/m³ for Ceramic Alumina 96%.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Ceramic Alumina 96%?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 6063-T6, so the same part in Ceramic Alumina 96% deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Ceramic Alumina 96%?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6063-T6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Ceramic Alumina 96% is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 6063-T6Ceramic Alumina 96%
Stiff rod or tie (tension)3.19x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.52x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate19% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter34% heavier
Strong beamlighter35% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter36% 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 6063-T6 or Ceramic Alumina 96%?

Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 W/m·K against 24.7 W/m·K for Ceramic Alumina 96%.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Among 72 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 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 Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6063-T6Ceramic Alumina 96%
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 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-4SiliconAluminum A380Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6063-T6Ceramic Alumina 96%
Strength against density

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