Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Plastic TPU

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

Change either side

Mechanical
Try it on a partA bracket 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	23.7MPasourcetypical, stress at break
Flexural strength	not sourced	4.1MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	12%sourcetypical, T6, in 4D	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPasourcetypical1,030x stiffer	0.067GPasourcetypical
Density	2,700kg/m³sourcenominal, 20 °C	1,220kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	79.6kN·m/kg4.1x higher	19.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.6MN·m/kg465x higher	0.0549MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	5,055m/s	234m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	201W/m·Ksourcetypical, T6, 20 °C	not sourced
Thermal expansion	23.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	117µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	901J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (Hydro EN AW-6063)	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	82.6mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	615–655°Csourcemelting range	217°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	50.3°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
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).	Ultimaker TPU 95A, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 29, 2022.

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.

Plastic TPU is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Aluminum 6063-T6 stronger than Plastic TPU?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 215 MPa against tensile strength 23.7 MPa for Plastic TPU (9.07x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Plastic TPU?

Plastic TPU is lighter: 1,220 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Plastic TPU?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 0.067 GPa for Plastic TPU, 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 TPU?

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 TPU
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	465x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	14.5x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	4.56x heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	4.1x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	1.97x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	36% 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).

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density