Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Copper C10100

Compare Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Copper C10100 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 6063-T6	Copper C10100
Yield strength	215MPa13.12x stronger	69MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	240MPa1	221MPa2
Elongation at break	12%1	45%23.75x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPa1	117GPa21.7x stiffer
Density	2,700kg/m³13.31x lighter	8,941kg/m³2
Strength to weight	79.6kN·m/kg10.3x higher	7.72kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.6MN·m/kg1.95x higher	13.1MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.343
Shear modulus	not sourced	43.7GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	122GPa
Speed of sound	5,055m/s40% 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 6063-T6	Copper C10100
Thermal conductivity	201W/m·K1	391W/m·K21.95x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	23.4µm/m·K1	16.9µm/m·K238% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	117µm growth	84.5µm growth38% less
Specific heat	901J/kg·K42.34x higher	385J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	82.6mm²/s	114mm²/s37% faster
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	8,992W/m
Melting point	melting range615–655°C1	melting point1,083°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, Wieland, Hydro

Aluminum 6063-T6: 6063-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).
Copper C10100: C10100 oxygen-free electronic (OFE) copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.04 in. flat products, copper.org typical values

1
Alloy 6063 Tube & Pipe Technical Data, Rev. 05/06Kaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 6063-T6 · Yield strength: typical, T6, 0.0625 in specimenAluminum 6063-T6 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, T6Aluminum 6063-T6 · Elongation at break: typical, T6, in 4DAluminum 6063-T6 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 6063-T6 · Density: nominal, 20 °CAluminum 6063-T6 · Thermal conductivity: typical, T6, 20 °CAluminum 6063-T6 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 6063-T6 · Melting point: melting range
2
C10100 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C10100 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C10100 · Density: nominalCopper C10100 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C10100 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Melting point: melting point (liquidus = solidus, pure copper)
3
Wieland-K09 (Cu-OFE, C10100) Data SheetWielandCopper C10100 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K09 = Cu-OFE = C10100, rolled products)
4
Technical Datasheet, Extruded Products: Alloy EN AW-6063 (Rev. 4, 2023)Hydroarchived copyAluminum 6063-T6 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °C (Hydro EN AW-6063)

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 6063-T6 stronger than Copper C10100?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 215 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C10100 (3.12x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Copper C10100?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Copper C10100?

Copper C10100 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 6063-T6, so the same part in Copper C10100 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Copper C10100?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6063-T6 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 6063-T6	Copper C10100
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	1.95x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2.54x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2.78x heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	10.3x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	7.06x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	5.85x 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 6063-T6 or Copper C10100?

Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 12% for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Copper C10100?

Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 201 W/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Which expands less with temperature?

Copper C10100 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.