Materials / Compare

Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Stainless Steel 17-4PH

Compare Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Stainless Steel 17-4PH strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 6063-T6Wrought
Stainless Steel 17-4PHWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength215MPasourcetypical, T6, 0.0625 in specimen1,275MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Ultimate tensile strength240MPasourcetypical, T61,379MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Elongation at break12%sourcetypical, T6, in 4D9%sourcetypical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)69GPasourcetypical197GPasourceH 900
Density2,700kg/m³sourcenominal, 20 °C7,800kg/m³sourceH 900
Strength to weight79.6kN·m/kg163kN·m/kg2.05x higher
Stiffness to weight25.6MN·m/kg1% higher25.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's rationot sourced0.272sourceH 900 (column)
Shear modulusnot sourced77.4GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced144GPa
Speed of sound5,055m/s5,026m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity201W/m·Ksourcetypical, T6, 20 °C17.9W/m·Ksourceat 149 °C (300 °F), H 900
Thermal expansion23.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C10.8µm/m·Ksourcemean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing117µm growth54µm growth2.17x less
Specific heat901J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (Hydro EN AW-6063)460J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C, H 900
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)82.6mm²/s16.6x faster4.99mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced7,809W/m
Melting point615–655°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Max service temperaturenot sourced316°Csourcestrength-retention limit (not oxidation)
Values for6063-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).Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021)

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 Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 215 MPa for Aluminum 6063-T6 (5.93x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 6063-T6, so the same part in Stainless Steel 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

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 panel or plate; Stainless Steel 17-4PH is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must beAluminum 6063-T6Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter1% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.71x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.04x heavier
Strong rod or tie2.05x heavierlighter
Strong beam13% heavierlighter
Strong panel or platelighter19% 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 Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 W/m·K against 17.9 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.

Which expands less with temperature?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Aluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6063-T6Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Aluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6063-T6Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Strength against density

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