Materials / Compare
Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic Polypropylene
Compare Aluminum ADC12 vs. Plastic Polypropylene 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) | 33MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527 |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 345MPasourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 2.3%sourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 79.8GPasourcestandard value (S.S.Aluminum) | 1.45GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527 |
| Density | 2,680kg/m³sourcemeasured (Daiki) | 900kg/m³sourcetypical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1 |
| Strength to weight | 55.6kN·m/kg1.52x higher | 36.7kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 29.8MN·m/kg18.5x higher | 1.61MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.42sourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 0.511GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 3.02GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,457m/s | 1,269m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 125W/m·Ksourcemeasured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki) | 0.17–0.22W/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| Thermal expansion | 21µm/m·Ksourcemeasured, temperature range not stated (Daiki) | 80–100µm/m·Ksourcebase material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 105µm growth4.29x less | 450µm growth |
| Specific heat | 911J/kg·Ksourcemeasured (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 51.2mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 28.6W/m |
| Melting point | 515–582°Csourcesolidus-liquidus (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 90°CsourceHDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed |
| 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. | LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), 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 Polypropylene?
Aluminum ADC12 is stronger: its yield strength is 149 MPa against 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (4.52x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Polypropylene?
Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 2,680 kg/m³ for Aluminum ADC12.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Polypropylene?
Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or Plastic Polypropylene?
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 Polypropylene is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum ADC12 | Plastic Polypropylene |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 18.5x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.49x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 28% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.52x heavier |
| Strong beam | 9% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 40% 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 Polypropylene?
Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 0.195 W/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum ADC12 expands less: 21 µm/m·K against 90 µm/m·K for Plastic Polypropylene.