7050-T7451 plate, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet (longitudinal); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Ultimaker ABS, 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 v5.00, April 20, 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 ABS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum 7050-T7451 stronger than Plastic ABS?
Aluminum 7050-T7451 is stronger: its yield strength is 469 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (12.3x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Plastic ABS?
Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 2,830 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7050-T7451.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Plastic ABS?
Aluminum 7050-T7451 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70.3 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in Aluminum 7050-T7451 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Plastic ABS?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 7050-T7451 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 7050-T7451
Plastic ABS
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
13.9x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
2.33x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
28% heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
4.78x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
2.07x 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).
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Plastic ABS?
Aluminum 7050-T7451 conducts heat better: 157 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 7050-T7451 expands less: 23.5 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.