6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Bambu Lab PAHT-CF, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y, dry state; nozzle 290 °C, bed 100 °C, 100 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 PAHT-CF is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum stronger than FDM PAHT-CF?
Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against tensile strength 92 MPa for FDM PAHT-CF (3x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum or FDM PAHT-CF?
FDM PAHT-CF is lighter: 1,060 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum or FDM PAHT-CF?
Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 3.86 GPa for FDM PAHT-CF, so the same part in Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or FDM PAHT-CF?
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; FDM PAHT-CF is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum
FDM PAHT-CF
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
6.95x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.65x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2% heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
18% heavier
Strong beam
22% heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
47% 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).