Materials / Compare

Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic HDPE

Compare Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic HDPE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum ADC12Cast
Plastic HDPEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength149MPasourceone test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527
Ultimate tensile strength345MPasourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)not sourced
Elongation at break2.3%sourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)79.8GPasourcestandard value (S.S.Aluminum)0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527
Density2,680kg/m³sourcemeasured (Daiki)950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183
Strength to weight55.6kN·m/kg2.2x higher25.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight29.8MN·m/kg31.4x higher0.947MN·m/kg
Poisson's rationot sourced0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)
Shear modulusnot sourced0.316GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced2GPa
Speed of sound5,457m/s973m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity125W/m·Ksourcemeasured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki)0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)
Thermal expansion21µm/m·Ksourcemeasured, temperature range not stated (Daiki)120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing105µm growth5.71x less600µm growth
Specific heat911J/kg·Ksourcemeasured (Daiki)2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)51.2mm²/s246x faster0.208mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced56.9W/m
Melting point515–582°Csourcesolidus-liquidus (Daiki)not sourced
Values forJIS ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu, about A383 / EN AC-46100) high-pressure die-casting alloy, as cast; physical properties from Daiki Aluminium Industry (ADC12 ingot producer) measured values; modulus from S.S.Aluminum (ADC12 ingot producer) standard values.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 ADC12 stronger than Plastic HDPE?

Aluminum ADC12 is stronger: its yield strength is 149 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (6.21x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic HDPE?

Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 2,680 kg/m³ for Aluminum ADC12.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic HDPE?

Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic HDPE?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum ADC12 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 beAluminum ADC12Plastic HDPE
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter31.4x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter3.34x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter1.58x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter2.2x heavier
Strong beamlighter20% heavier
Strong panel or plate13% heavierlighter

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 ADC12 or Plastic HDPE?

Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 0.445 W/m·K for Plastic HDPE.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum ADC12 expands less: 21 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.

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 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 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OMagnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum ADC12Plastic HDPE
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 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 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OMagnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum ADC12Plastic HDPE
Strength against density

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