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Aluminum vs. Plastic PTFE Compare Aluminum vs. Plastic PTFE strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless 304 Stainless 316 Stainless 303 Stainless 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall Aluminum Wrought Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic PTFE Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA Rubber Wood Aluminum Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Steel Steel AISI 1018 Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Iron Titanium Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Stainless 304 Stainless 316 Stainless 303 Stainless 17-4PH Brass C360 Brass C260 Copper C110 Glass Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Standard SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Concrete Brick Plywood Drywall Plastic PTFE Bulk polymer (molded or machined) 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 276 MPa source typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen 9 MPa source typical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8) Ultimate tensile strength 310 MPa source typical 39.3 MPa source typical, skived tape 0.13 mm Elongation at break 17 % source typical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen 350 % source typical, skived tape 0.13 mm Young's modulus (stiffness) 68.3 GPa source typical not sourced Density 2,700 kg/m³ source nominal 2,160 kg/m³ source typical (standard specific gravity, ASTM D4894) Strength to weight 102 kN·m/kg 24.5x higher 4.17 kN·m/kg Stiffness to weight 25.3 MN·m/kg not sourced Poisson's ratio 0.33 source typical (handbook physical constant) 0.46 source typical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook) Shear modulus 25.7 GPa not sourced Bulk modulus 67 GPa not sourced Speed of sound 5,030 m/s not sourced Thermal Thermal conductivity 167 W/m·K source typical, 20 °C 0.25 W/m·K source typical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimen Thermal expansion 23.6 µm/m·K source typical, mean 20-100 °C 100 µm/m·K source typical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228) 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing 118 µm growth 4.24x less 500 µm growth Specific heat 896 J/kg·K source typical, at 100 °C 1,400 J/kg·K source typical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591) Heats up and cools (diffusivity) 69 mm²/s 835x faster 0.0827 mm²/s Thermal shock resistance 19,159 W/m not sourced Melting point 582–652 °C source solidus-liquidus 327 °C source second melting peak (sintered polymer), +/-10 Max service temperature not sourced 260 °C source service temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement) Values for 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J Chemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape)
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 stronger than Plastic PTFE? Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (30.7x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum or Plastic PTFE? Plastic PTFE is lighter: 2,160 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or Plastic PTFE? For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be Aluminum Plastic PTFE Strong rod or tie lighter 24.5x heavier Strong beam lighter 7.84x heavier Strong panel or plate lighter 4.43x 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 Plastic PTFE? Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.25 W/m·K for Plastic PTFE.
Which expands less with temperature? Aluminum expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic PTFE.
Among 59 materials 1k 10k 0.1 1 10 100 Density (kg/m³) Young's modulus (GPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless 304 Stainless 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless 303 Stainless 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Aluminum Stiffness against density 1k 10k 10 100 1k Density (kg/m³) Yield strength (MPa) Plastic PLA Plastic PETG Plastic ABS Plastic TPU Plastic Nylon Rubber Steel Iron Titanium Steel AISI 1018 Stainless 304 Stainless 316 Aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Brass C360 Copper C110 Glass Steel AISI 1045 Steel AISI 4340 Steel A992 Stainless 303 Stainless 17-4PH Aluminum 2024-T351 Aluminum 5052-H32 Aluminum 7050-T7451 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Brass C260 Nickel Inconel 718 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 Zinc Zamak 3 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) Plastic Polycarbonate Plastic POM/Acetal Plastic Nylon PA6 Plastic Nylon PA66 Plastic PEEK Plastic UHMWPE Plastic HDPE Plastic Polypropylene Plastic PMMA FDM ASA FDM Polycarbonate FDM PAHT-CF FDM HIPS SLA Resin Tough 2000 SLA Resin Elastic 50A SLS PA12 Nylon DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium DMLS 316L Stainless Steel DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel Brick Aluminum Plastic PTFE Strength against density