Materials / Compare
Aluminum vs. Plastic UHMWPE
Compare Aluminum vs. Plastic UHMWPE 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 | 20MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 310MPasourcetypical | 43MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at break ISO 527, 50 mm/min |
| Elongation at break | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen | 465%sourcetypical, nominal elongation at break ISO 527 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 68.3GPasourcetypical | 0.66GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus ISO 527, 1 mm/min |
| Density | 2,700kg/m³sourcenominal | 930kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 102kN·m/kg4.75x higher | 21.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg35.6x higher | 0.71MN·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 | 842m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, unfilled (narrative value, generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| Thermal expansion | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 200µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 to 100 °C (generic Celanese UHMWPE) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 118µm growth8.47x less | 1,000µm 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 | 130–138°CsourceDSC 10 K/min |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 80°Csourcerecommended max constant operating temperature |
| Values for | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Celanese GUR 4120 (avg. molecular weight 4.7x10^6 g/mol), typical values on compression-molded specimens; CTE and thermal conductivity from Celanese's generic UHMWPE guide (grade not named) |
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 UHMWPE?
Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 20 MPa for Plastic UHMWPE (13.8x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum or Plastic UHMWPE?
Plastic UHMWPE is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum or Plastic UHMWPE?
Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 0.66 GPa for Plastic UHMWPE, so the same part in Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or Plastic UHMWPE?
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 | Plastic UHMWPE |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 35.6x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 3.5x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.62x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 4.75x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.98x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 28% 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 UHMWPE?
Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 200 µm/m·K for Plastic UHMWPE.