Materials / Compare
Aluminum A380 vs. Nickel Inconel 718
Compare Aluminum A380 vs. Nickel Inconel 718 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 160MPasourcetypical, 25 °C | 1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 320MPasourcetypical, 25 °C | 1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar |
| Elongation at break | 3.5%sourcetypical | 20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 71GPasourcetypical, 25 °C | 200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged |
| Density | 2,713kg/m³sourcetypical at 68 °F | 8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged |
| Strength to weight | 59kN·m/kg | 147kN·m/kg2.49x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.2MN·m/kg8% higher | 24.3MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 77.3GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 162GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,116m/s | 4,932m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 96.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 68 °F | 11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a) |
| Thermal expansion | 21.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 68-572 °F (20-300 °C) | 13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 109µm growth | 66µm growth1.65x less |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 68 °F | 435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 36.8mm²/s11.6x faster | 3.19mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 3,680W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer |
| Values for | A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page. | INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values |
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 A380 stronger than Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 160 MPa for Aluminum A380 (7.54x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or Nickel Inconel 718?
Aluminum A380 is lighter: 2,713 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum A380, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or Nickel Inconel 718?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum A380 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | Aluminum A380 | Nickel Inconel 718 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 8% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.81x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.15x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.49x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 27% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 10% 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 A380 or Nickel Inconel 718?
Aluminum A380 conducts heat better: 96.2 W/m·K against 11.4 W/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.
Which expands less with temperature?
Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 21.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum A380.