Aluminum ADC12 vs. Steel AISI 1045

Compare Aluminum ADC12 vs. Steel AISI 1045 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Mechanical
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Yield strength	149MPasourceone test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)	531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn
Ultimate tensile strength	345MPasourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)	627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn
Elongation at break	2.3%sourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)	12%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)	79.8GPasourcestandard value (S.S.Aluminum)	210GPasourcetypical
Density	2,680kg/m³sourcemeasured (Daiki)	7,800kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	55.6kN·m/kg	68.1kN·m/kg22% higher
Stiffness to weight	29.8MN·m/kg11% higher	26.9MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.3sourcetypical
Shear modulus	not sourced	80.8GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	175GPa
Speed of sound	5,457m/s	5,189m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	125W/m·Ksourcemeasured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki)	40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient
Thermal expansion	21µm/m·Ksourcemeasured, temperature range not stated (Daiki)	12µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	105µm growth	60µm growth1.75x less
Specific heat	911J/kg·Ksourcemeasured (Daiki)	460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	51.2mm²/s4.42x faster	11.6mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	6,269W/m
Melting point	515–582°Csourcesolidus-liquidus (Daiki)	not sourced
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.	AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants

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 Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 149 MPa for Aluminum ADC12 (3.56x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or Steel AISI 1045?

Aluminum ADC12 is lighter: 2,680 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1045.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 79.8 GPa for Aluminum ADC12, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or Steel AISI 1045?

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 beam, strong panel or plate; Steel AISI 1045 is lighter for a strong rod or tie.

Part that must be	Aluminum ADC12	Steel AISI 1045
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	11% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	1.79x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2.11x heavier
Strong rod or tie	22% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	lighter	25% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	1.54x heavier

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 Steel AISI 1045?

Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 42.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 21 µm/m·K for Aluminum ADC12.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density