ELEKTRON AZ91D magnesium die-casting alloy, as cast; Magnesium Elektron datasheet 475 (7/01), typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J for AZ91C castings.
Ultimaker PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS dated April 20, 2022.
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.
Plastic PLA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Magnesium AZ91D stronger than Plastic PLA?
Magnesium AZ91D is stronger: its yield strength is 150 MPa against 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (2.86x).
Which is lighter, Magnesium AZ91D or Plastic PLA?
Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 1,810 kg/m³ for Magnesium AZ91D.
Which is stiffer, Magnesium AZ91D or Plastic PLA?
Magnesium AZ91D is stiffer: Young's modulus 45 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, so the same part in Magnesium AZ91D deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Magnesium AZ91D or Plastic PLA?
For the same stiffness or strength: Magnesium AZ91D 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
Magnesium AZ91D
Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
9.49x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
2.55x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
1.65x heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
1.96x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
38% heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
16% 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, Magnesium AZ91D or Plastic PLA?
Magnesium AZ91D conducts heat better: 72 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.