Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Glass

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

Change either side

Mechanical
Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	215MPasourcetypical, T6, 0.0625 in specimen	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	240MPasourcetypical, T6	41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability
Flexural strength	not sourced	41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile)
Elongation at break	12%sourcetypical, T6, in 4D	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPasourcetypical	72GPasourcetypical
Density	2,700kg/m³sourcenominal, 20 °C	2,500kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	79.6kN·m/kg4.86x higher	16.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.6MN·m/kg	28.8MN·m/kg13% higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.22sourcetypical
Shear modulus	not sourced	29.5GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	42.9GPa
Speed of sound	5,055m/s	5,367m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	201W/m·Ksourcetypical, T6, 20 °C	0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F
Thermal expansion	23.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C	8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	117µm growth	41.5µm growth2.82x less
Specific heat	901J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (Hydro EN AW-6063)	880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	82.6mm²/s194x faster	0.426mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	50.1W/m
Melting point	615–655°Csourcemelting range	not sourced
Max service temperature	not sourced	511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit
Values for	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).	Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025)

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 Glass?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 215 MPa against tensile strength 41 MPa for Glass (5.24x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Glass?

Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Glass?

Glass is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 6063-T6, so the same part in Glass deflects less under the same load.

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

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

Part that must be	Aluminum 6063-T6	Glass
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	13% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	10% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	10% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	4.86x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	2.79x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	2.12x 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 Glass?

Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 W/m·K against 0.937 W/m·K for Glass.

Which expands less with temperature?

Glass expands less: 8.3 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density