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Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Wood

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

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Aluminum 6063-T6Wrought
WoodNatural
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Mechanical
Yield strength215MPasourcetypical, T6, 0.0625 in specimennot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength240MPasourcetypical, T699MPasourcemodulus of rupture (no direct tensile value)
Compressive strengthnot sourced46.6MPasourcecompression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength), 12% MC
Flexural strengthnot sourced99MPasourcemodulus of rupture (static bending), 12% MC
Elongation at break12%sourcetypical, T6, in 4Dnot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)69GPasourcetypical12.5GPasourcebending MOE, parallel to grain
Density2,700kg/m³sourcenominal, 20 °Cnot sourced
Strength to weight79.6kN·m/kgnot sourced
Stiffness to weight25.6MN·m/kgnot sourced
Poisson's rationot sourced0.35sourcemu_LR (red oak group, ~12% MC)
Shear modulusnot sourced4.63GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced13.9GPa
Speed of sound5,055m/snot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity201W/m·Ksourcetypical, T6, 20 °C0.18W/m·Ksourceacross grain, 12% MC (Table 4-7, approximate)
Thermal expansion23.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C3.1–4.5µm/m·Ksourceparallel to grain, ovendry wood, range across species
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing117µm growth19µm growth6.16x less
Specific heat901J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (Hydro EN AW-6063)1,700J/kg·Ksourcesolid wood (all species), 12% MC, 27 C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)82.6mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced244W/m
Melting point615–655°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
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).Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), clear straight-grained specimens at 12% MC, parallel to grain unless stated; USDA FPL Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021) Ch. 4 and Ch. 5

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 Wood?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 215 MPa against tensile strength 99 MPa for Wood (2.17x).

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Wood?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 12.5 GPa for Wood, so the same part in Aluminum 6063-T6 deflects less under the same load.

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Wood?

Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 W/m·K against 0.18 W/m·K for Wood.

Which expands less with temperature?

Wood expands less: 3.8 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 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 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-T6
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 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 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-T6
Strength against density

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