Materials / Compare

Aluminum 1100-O vs. Silicon

Compare Aluminum 1100-O vs. Silicon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Aluminum 1100-OWrought
SiliconGrown single crystal
MechanicalAluminum 1100-OSilicon
Yield strength35MPa1none (brittle)
Ultimate tensile strength90MPa1modulus of rupture130MPa2
Flexural strengthnot sourcedmodulus of rupture130MPa2
Elongation at break35%1none (brittle)
Young's modulus (stiffness)69GPa1131GPa21.9x stiffer
Density2,710kg/m³12,329kg/m³216% lighter
Strength to weight12.9kN·m/kg55.8kN·m/kg4.32x higher
Stiffness to weight25.5MN·m/kg56.2MN·m/kg2.21x higher
Poisson's rationot sourced0.2212
Shear modulusnot sourced53.6GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced78.3GPa
Speed of sound5,046m/s7,500m/s49% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel 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 StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4Ceramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 1100-OSilicon
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel 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 StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4Ceramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 1100-OSilicon
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalAluminum 1100-OSilicon
Thermal conductivity222W/m·K136% more heat through a fin163W/m·K2
Thermal expansion23.6µm/m·K12.62µm/m·K29.01x less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing118µm growth13.1µm growth9.01x less
Specific heatbase material901J/kg·K323% higher732J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)90.9mm²/s95.6mm²/s5% faster
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced48,095W/m
Melting pointmelting range640–655°C11,412°C2
Max service temperaturenot sourced300°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel 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 HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4Ceramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 1100-OSilicon
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel 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 HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4Ceramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 1100-OSilicon
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources3 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Korth Kristalle, Hydro
Aluminum 1100-O
1100-O (annealed) commercially pure aluminium, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 1100 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from Hydro EN AW-1050A (99.5% Al) extruded-products datasheet (10/2018).
Silicon
Synthetic single-crystal silicon (cubic, diamond structure), Korth Kristalle (crystal grower) material data; Korth usually supplies Floating Zone (FZ) material, Czochralski (Cz) also offered. Silicon is elastically anisotropic; the producer quotes one modulus and the solver is isotropic.
  1. 1
    Alloy 1100 Tube & Pipe Technical Data, Rev. 05/06Kaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 1100-O · Yield strength: typical, O, 0.0625 in specimenAluminum 1100-O · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, OAluminum 1100-O · Elongation at break: typical, O, in 4DAluminum 1100-O · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 1100-O · Density: nominal, 20 °CAluminum 1100-O · Thermal conductivity: typical, O, 20 °CAluminum 1100-O · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 1100-O · Melting point: melting range
  2. 2
    Si: SiliconKorth Kristallearchived copySilicon · Ultimate tensile strength: modulus of rupture (bending fracture stress); brittle, no yield pointSilicon · Flexural strength: modulus of ruptureSilicon · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical (single quoted value of an anisotropic crystal)Silicon · Density: typicalSilicon · Poisson's ratio: typicalSilicon · Thermal conductivity: typical at 313 K (40 °C)Silicon · Thermal expansion: typical at 300 KSilicon · Specific heat: typicalSilicon · Melting point: typicalSilicon · Max service temperature: producer's maximum application temperature (optical components)
  3. 3
    Technical Datasheet, Extruded Products: Alloy EN AW-1050AHydroAluminum 1100-O · Specific heat: base material: commercially pure aluminium EN AW-1050A (Hydro), 20 °C

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Aluminum 1100-O stronger than Silicon?

Silicon is stronger: its tensile strength is 130 MPa against yield strength 35 MPa for Aluminum 1100-O (3.71x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 1100-O or Silicon?

Silicon is lighter: 2,329 kg/m³ against 2,710 kg/m³ for Aluminum 1100-O.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 1100-O or Silicon?

Silicon is stiffer: Young's modulus 131 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 1100-O, so the same part in Silicon deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 1100-O or Silicon?

For the same stiffness or strength: Silicon 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 beAluminum 1100-OSilicon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)2.21x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.6x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate44% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie4.32x heavierlighter
Strong beam2.79x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.24x heavierlighter

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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 1100-O or Silicon?

Aluminum 1100-O conducts heat better: 222 W/m·K against 163 W/m·K for Silicon.

Which expands less with temperature?

Silicon expands less: 2.62 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum 1100-O.

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