Materials / Compare
Aluminum vs. FDM ASA
Compare Aluminum vs. FDM ASA 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 | 276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 310MPasourcetypical8.38x stronger | 37MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 65MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen | 9.2%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 68.3GPasourcetypical27.9x stiffer | 2.45GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,700kg/m³sourcenominal | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 102kN·m/kg2.9x higher | 35.2kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg10.8x higher | 2.33MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 25.7GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 67GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 5,030m/s | 1,528m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 118µm growth4.03x less | 475µm growth |
| Specific heat | 896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 69mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 19,159W/m | not sourced |
| Melting point | 582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa |
| Values for | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Bambu Lab ASA, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y; nozzle 260 °C, bed 80 °C, 200 mm/s, 100% infill; annealed and dried 80 °C for 12 h before testing. |
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.
FDM ASA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum stronger than FDM ASA?
Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (7.46x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum or FDM ASA?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum or FDM ASA?
Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or FDM ASA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum | FDM ASA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 10.8x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.05x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 18% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.9x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 48% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 6% 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 or FDM ASA?
Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.