Materials / Compare
Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Plastic HDPE Compare Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Plastic HDPE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum ADC12 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Magnesium AZ91D Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Solder SAC305 Aluminum 6063-T6 Wrought Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Aluminum A380 Aluminum 6063-T6 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum ADC12 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Magnesium AZ91D Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Solder SAC305 Plastic HDPE Bulk polymer (molded or machined) Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser Open in LessCAD Open in LessCAD Mechanical Yield strength 215 MPa source typical, T6, 0.0625 in specimen 24 MPa source typical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 Ultimate tensile strength 240 MPa source typical, T6 not sourced Elongation at break 12 % source typical, T6, in 4D not sourced Young's modulus (stiffness) 69 GPa source typical 0.9 GPa source typical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 Density 2,700 kg/m³ source nominal, 20 °C 950 kg/m³ source typical, ISO 1183 Strength to weight 79.6 kN·m/kg 3.15x higher 25.3 kN·m/kg Stiffness to weight 25.6 MN·m/kg 27x higher 0.947 MN·m/kg Poisson's ratio not sourced 0.4–0.45 source base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) Shear modulus not sourced 0.316 GPa Bulk modulus not sourced 2 GPa Speed of sound 5,055 m/s 973 m/s Thermal Thermal conductivity 201 W/m·K source typical, T6, 20 °C 0.4–0.49 W/m·K source base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) Thermal expansion 23.4 µm/m·K source typical, mean 20-100 °C 120 µm/m·K source base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing 117 µm growth 5.13x less 600 µm growth Specific heat 901 J/kg·K source typical, 20 °C (Hydro EN AW-6063) 2,250 J/kg·K source base material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) Heats up and cools (diffusivity) 82.6 mm²/s 397x faster 0.208 mm²/s Thermal shock resistance not sourced 56.9 W/m Melting point 615–655 °C source melting range not sourced 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). LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values
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 Plastic HDPE? Aluminum 6063-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 215 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (8.96x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Plastic HDPE? Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6063-T6.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Plastic HDPE? Aluminum 6063-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Aluminum 6063-T6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Plastic HDPE? 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 Plastic HDPE Stiff rod or tie (tension) lighter 27x heavier Stiff beam (bending) lighter 3.08x heavier Stiff panel or plate lighter 49% heavier Strong rod or tie lighter 3.15x heavier Strong beam lighter 1.52x heavier Strong panel or plate lighter 5% 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 Plastic HDPE? Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 W/m·K against 0.445 W/m·K for Plastic HDPE.
Which expands less with temperature? Aluminum 6063-T6 expands less: 23.4 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.
Among 72 materials 1k 10k 0.1 1 10 100 Density (kg/m³) Young's modulus (GPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic UHMWPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Ceramic Aluminum Nitride Aluminum A380 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Aluminum 6063-T6 Plastic HDPE Stiffness against density 1k 10k 10 100 1k Density (kg/m³) Yield strength (MPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Rubber Aluminum Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless Steel 303 Stainless Steel 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Brick PCB Laminate FR-4 Silicon Ceramic Alumina 96% Aluminum A380 Aluminum 1100-O Aluminum ADC12 Magnesium AZ91D Solder SAC305 Plastic PBT GF30 Plastic PPS GF40 Plastic LCP GF30 Aluminum 6063-T6 Plastic HDPE Strength against density