2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)
36.8mm²/s177x faster
0.208mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance
not sourced
56.9W/m
Values for
A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page.
LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO 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 Plastic HDPE?
Aluminum A380 is stronger: its yield strength is 160 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (6.67x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or Plastic HDPE?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 2,713 kg/m³ for Aluminum A380.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or Plastic HDPE?
Aluminum A380 is stiffer: Young's modulus 71 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Aluminum A380 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or Plastic HDPE?
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 rod or tie, strong beam; Plastic HDPE is lighter for a strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum A380
Plastic HDPE
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
27.6x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
3.11x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
1.5x heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
2.33x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
24% heavier
Strong panel or plate
11% heavier
lighter
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 Plastic HDPE?
Aluminum A380 conducts heat better: 96.2 W/m·K against 0.445 W/m·K for Plastic HDPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum A380 expands less: 21.8 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.