Materials / Compare
Plastic HDPE vs. Magnesium AZ31B-H24
Compare Plastic HDPE vs. Magnesium AZ31B-H24 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 | 24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 | 220MPasourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm, 0.2 % proof stress |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 290MPasourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 13%sourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm, gauge 5.65√A |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 | 44.8GPasourcetypical (handbook physical constant) |
| Density | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 | 1,769kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 25.3kN·m/kg | 124kN·m/kg4.92x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 0.947MN·m/kg | 25.3MN·m/kg26.7x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 0.35sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) |
| Shear modulus | 0.316GPa | 16.6GPa52.5x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 2GPa | 49.8GPa |
| Speed of sound | 973m/s | 5,032m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 76.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (temper/temperature not stated) |
| Thermal expansion | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 26.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical (temperature range not stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 600µm growth | 134µm growth4.48x less |
| Specific heat | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 1,040J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.208mm²/s | 41.8mm²/s201x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 56.9W/m | 9,159W/m161x more resistant |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 149°Csourcestated application limit |
| Values for | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values | AZ31B-H24 sheet 0.016-0.062 in., MIL-HDBK-5J Table 4.2.1.0(b) (AMS 4377); strengths are S-basis MINIMUMS |
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 Plastic HDPE stronger than Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
Magnesium AZ31B-H24 is stronger: its yield strength is 220 MPa against 24 MPa for Plastic HDPE (9.17x).
Which is lighter, Plastic HDPE or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 1,769 kg/m³ for Magnesium AZ31B-H24.
Which is stiffer, Plastic HDPE or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
Magnesium AZ31B-H24 is stiffer: Young's modulus 44.8 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in Magnesium AZ31B-H24 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic HDPE or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
For the same stiffness or strength: Magnesium AZ31B-H24 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 | Plastic HDPE | Magnesium AZ31B-H24 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 26.7x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 3.79x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 1.98x heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 4.92x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.35x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.63x 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, Plastic HDPE or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
Magnesium AZ31B-H24 conducts heat better: 76.9 W/m·K against 0.445 W/m·K for Plastic HDPE.
Which expands less with temperature?
Magnesium AZ31B-H24 expands less: 26.8 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.