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Magnesium AZ91D vs. Wood

Compare Magnesium AZ91D vs. Wood strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Magnesium AZ91DCast
WoodNatural
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Mechanical
Yield strength150MPasourcetypical, 0.2% tensile yield, ambient temperaturenot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength230MPasourcetypical, ambient temperature99MPasourcemodulus of rupture (no direct tensile value)
Compressive strengthnot sourced46.6MPasourcecompression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength), 12% MC
Flexural strengthnot sourced99MPasourcemodulus of rupture (static bending), 12% MC
Elongation at break3%sourcetypical, ambient temperaturenot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)45GPasourcetypical12.5GPasourcebending MOE, parallel to grain
Density1,810kg/m³sourcetypicalnot sourced
Strength to weight82.9kN·m/kgnot sourced
Stiffness to weight24.9MN·m/kgnot sourced
Poisson's ratio0.35sourcebase material: AZ91C casting (MIL-HDBK-5J handbook physical constant)0.35sourcemu_LR (red oak group, ~12% MC)
Shear modulus16.7GPa3.6x stiffer in shear4.63GPa
Bulk modulus50GPa13.9GPa
Speed of sound4,986m/snot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity72W/m·Ksourcetypical0.18W/m·Ksourceacross grain, 12% MC (Table 4-7, approximate)
Thermal expansion25µm/m·Ksourcetypical, temperature range not stated3.1–4.5µm/m·Ksourceparallel to grain, ovendry wood, range across species
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing125µm growth19µm growth6.58x less
Specific heat1,050J/kg·Ksourcetypical1,700J/kg·Ksourcesolid wood (all species), 12% MC, 27 C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)37.9mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance6,240W/m25.6x more resistant244W/m
Melting point470–595°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Values forELEKTRON AZ91D magnesium die-casting alloy, as cast; Magnesium Elektron datasheet 475 (7/01), typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J for AZ91C castings.Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), clear straight-grained specimens at 12% MC, parallel to grain unless stated; USDA FPL Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021) Ch. 4 and Ch. 5

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 Magnesium AZ91D stronger than Wood?

Magnesium AZ91D is stronger: its yield strength is 150 MPa against tensile strength 99 MPa for Wood (1.52x).

Which is stiffer, Magnesium AZ91D or Wood?

Magnesium AZ91D is stiffer: Young's modulus 45 GPa against 12.5 GPa for Wood, so the same part in Magnesium AZ91D deflects less under the same load.

Which conducts heat better, Magnesium AZ91D or Wood?

Magnesium AZ91D conducts heat better: 72 W/m·K against 0.18 W/m·K for Wood.

Which expands less with temperature?

Wood expands less: 3.8 µm/m·K against 25 µm/m·K for Magnesium AZ91D.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Magnesium AZ91D
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Magnesium AZ91D
Strength against density

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