Materials / Compare

Aluminum vs. SLA Resin Elastic 50A

Compare Aluminum vs. SLA Resin Elastic 50A strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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AluminumWrought
SLA Resin Elastic 50A3D printed (SLA resin)
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Mechanical
Yield strength276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimennot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength310MPasourcetypical91.2x stronger3.4MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen160%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)68.3GPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Density2,700kg/m³sourcenominal1,010kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight102kN·m/kg30.4x higher3.37kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kgnot sourced
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)not sourced
Shear modulus25.7GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus67GPanot sourced
Speed of sound5,030m/snot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °Cnot sourced
Thermal expansion23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °Cnot sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing118µm growthnot sourced
Specific heat896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)69mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance19,159W/mnot sourced
Melting point582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidusnot sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced-34.5°CsourceDMA
Values for6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JFormlabs Elastic 50A Resin V2 (FLELCL02), TDS Rev. 01 24.01.2024; parts printed on Form 3, 100 µm, Elastic 50A V2 settings and post-processing; tensile on Die C specimens cut from printed sheets after 3+ h at 23 °C.

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.

SLA Resin Elastic 50A is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Aluminum stronger than SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against tensile strength 3.4 MPa for SLA Resin Elastic 50A (81.2x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

SLA Resin Elastic 50A is lighter: 1,010 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or SLA Resin Elastic 50A?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminumSLA Resin Elastic 50A
Strong rod or tielighter30.4x heavier
Strong beamlighter7.01x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter3.37x 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).

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelAluminum
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickAluminumSLA Resin Elastic 50A
Strength against density

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