Materials / Compare
Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic Polycarbonate
Compare Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic Polycarbonate 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 | 149MPasourceone test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 65MPasourcetypical, tensile yield |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 345MPasourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 65MPasourcetypical, stress at break |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 97MPasourcetypical, flexural strength |
| Elongation at break | 2.3%sourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 125%sourcetypical, strain at break |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 79.8GPasourcestandard value (S.S.Aluminum) | 2.4GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,680kg/m³sourcemeasured (Daiki) | 1,200kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 55.6kN·m/kg3% higher | 54.2kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 29.8MN·m/kg14.9x higher | 2MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.38sourcetypical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 0.87GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 3.33GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,457m/s | 1,414m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 125W/m·Ksourcemeasured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki) | 0.2W/m·Ksourcetypical, through-plane, 23 C |
| Thermal expansion | 21µm/m·Ksourcemeasured, temperature range not stated (Daiki) | 65µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 23-55 C, parallel and normal |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 105µm growth3.1x less | 325µm growth |
| Specific heat | 911J/kg·Ksourcemeasured (Daiki) | 1,172J/kg·Ksourcetypical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766 |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 51.2mm²/s360x faster | 0.142mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 51.7W/m |
| Melting point | 515–582°Csourcesolidus-liquidus (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 144°Csourcetypical, DSC 10 C/min |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 125°CsourceUL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm |
| Values for | JIS 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. | Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, 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 ADC12 stronger than Plastic Polycarbonate?
Aluminum ADC12 is stronger: its yield strength is 149 MPa against 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (2.29x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,200 kg/m³ against 2,680 kg/m³ for Aluminum ADC12.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic Polycarbonate, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
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; Plastic Polycarbonate is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum ADC12 | Plastic Polycarbonate |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 14.9x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.58x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 44% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 3% heavier |
| Strong beam | 28% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 48% 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 ADC12 or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum ADC12 expands less: 21 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Among 72 materials
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