A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page.
Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).
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 PPS GF40?
Plastic PPS GF40 is stronger: its tensile strength is 195 MPa against yield strength 160 MPa for Aluminum A380 (22%).
Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or Plastic PPS GF40?
Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter: 1,650 kg/m³ against 2,713 kg/m³ for Aluminum A380.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or Plastic PPS GF40?
Aluminum A380 is stiffer: Young's modulus 71 GPa against 14.7 GPa for Plastic PPS GF40, so the same part in Aluminum A380 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or Plastic PPS GF40?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum A380 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum A380
Plastic PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.94x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
34% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
3% heavier
Strong rod or tie
2x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.88x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.82x 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 PPS GF40?
Aluminum A380 conducts heat better: 96.2 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic PPS GF40.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PPS GF40 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 21.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum A380.