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).
Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).
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 PPS GF40?
Aluminum 6063-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 215 MPa against tensile strength 195 MPa for Plastic PPS GF40 (10%).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Plastic PPS GF40?
Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter: 1,650 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6063-T6.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Plastic PPS GF40?
Aluminum 6063-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 14.7 GPa for Plastic PPS GF40, 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 PPS GF40?
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; Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 6063-T6
Plastic PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.87x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
32% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2% heavier
Strong rod or tie
48% heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.53x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.56x heavier
lighter
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 PPS GF40?
Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic PPS GF40.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PPS GF40 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.