Materials / Compare
Aluminum vs. Titanium
Compare Aluminum vs. Titanium 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 | 885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 310MPasourcetypical | 940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed |
| Elongation at break | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen | 16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 68.3GPasourcetypical | 107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C |
| Density | 2,700kg/m³sourcenominal1.64x lighter | 4,430kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 102kN·m/kg | 200kN·m/kg1.95x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg | 25.8MN·m/kg2% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | 0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements |
| Shear modulus | 25.7GPa | 42.7GPa1.66x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 67GPa | 121GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,030m/s | 5,084m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed |
| Thermal expansion | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 118µm growth | 45µm growth2.62x less |
| Specific heat | 896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 69mm²/s26.9x faster | 2.57mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 19,159W/m5.14x more resistant | 3,730W/m |
| Melting point | 582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature |
| Values for | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | TIMETAL 6-4 (Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5) annealed plate typical (TIMET properties manual) + TIMET datasheet TMC-0150 physical properties |
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 Titanium?
Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 276 MPa for Aluminum (3.21x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum or Titanium?
Aluminum is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 4,430 kg/m³ for Titanium.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum or Titanium?
Titanium is stiffer: Young's modulus 115 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum, so the same part in Titanium deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or Titanium?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Titanium is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum | Titanium |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 27% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 38% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 1.95x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 33% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 9% 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).
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum or Titanium?
Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 6.6 W/m·K for Titanium.
Which expands less with temperature?
Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum.