Materials / Compare

Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Magnesium AZ91D

Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Magnesium AZ91D strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Aluminum 2024-T351Wrought
Magnesium AZ91DCast
MechanicalAluminum 2024-T351Magnesium AZ91D
Yield strength324MPa12.16x stronger150MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength469MPa12.04x stronger230MPa2
Elongation at break19%16.33x more ductile3%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)73.1GPa11.62x stiffer45GPa2
Density2,770kg/m³11,810kg/m³21.53x lighter
Strength to weight117kN·m/kg41% higher82.9kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.4MN·m/kg6% higher24.9MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.333base material0.353
Shear modulus27.5GPa1.65x stiffer in shear16.7GPa
Bulk modulus71.7GPa43% higher50GPa
Speed of sound5,137m/s3% faster4,986m/s
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 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-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 2024-T351Magnesium AZ91D
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 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-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 2024-T351Magnesium AZ91D
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalAluminum 2024-T351Magnesium AZ91D
Thermal conductivity120W/m·K11.67x more heat through a fin72W/m·K2
Thermal expansion22.9µm/m·K125µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing115µm growth9% less125µm growth
Specific heat875J/kg·K11,050J/kg·K220% higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)49.5mm²/s31% faster37.9mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance15,561W/m2.49x more resistant6,240W/m
Melting pointmelting range502–638°C1melting range470–595°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 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-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 2024-T351Magnesium AZ91D
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 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-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 2024-T351Magnesium AZ91D
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources3 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Magnesium Elektron, U.S. Department of Defense
Aluminum 2024-T351
2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Magnesium AZ91D
ELEKTRON AZ91D magnesium die-casting alloy, as cast; Magnesium Elektron datasheet 475 (7/01), typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J for AZ91C castings.
  1. 1
    Alloy 2024 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 2024-T351 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum 2024-T351 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 2024-T351 · Elongation at break: typical, in 4DAluminum 2024-T351 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 2024-T351 · Density: nominalAluminum 2024-T351 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CAluminum 2024-T351 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 2024-T351 · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum 2024-T351 · Melting point: melting range
  2. 2
    Elektron Die Casting Alloys (Datasheet 475)Magnesium Elektronarchived copyMagnesium AZ91D · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% tensile yield, ambient temperatureMagnesium AZ91D · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, ambient temperatureMagnesium AZ91D · Elongation at break: typical, ambient temperatureMagnesium AZ91D · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalMagnesium AZ91D · Density: typicalMagnesium AZ91D · Thermal conductivity: typicalMagnesium AZ91D · Thermal expansion: typical, temperature range not statedMagnesium AZ91D · Specific heat: typicalMagnesium AZ91D · Melting point: melting range
  3. 3
    MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum 2024-T351 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant), all tempersMagnesium AZ91D · Poisson's ratio: base material: AZ91C casting (MIL-HDBK-5J handbook physical constant)

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 2024-T351 stronger than Magnesium AZ91D?

Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 150 MPa for Magnesium AZ91D (2.16x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Magnesium AZ91D?

Magnesium AZ91D is lighter: 1,810 kg/m³ against 2,770 kg/m³ for Aluminum 2024-T351.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Magnesium AZ91D?

Aluminum 2024-T351 is stiffer: Young's modulus 73.1 GPa against 45 GPa for Magnesium AZ91D, so the same part in Aluminum 2024-T351 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Magnesium AZ91D?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 2024-T351 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie, strong beam; Magnesium AZ91D is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 2024-T351Magnesium AZ91D
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter6% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)20% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate30% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter41% heavier
Strong beamlighter9% heavier
Strong panel or plate4% 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).

Which is more ductile, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Magnesium AZ91D?

Aluminum 2024-T351 stretches further before it breaks: 19% elongation at break against 3% for Magnesium AZ91D.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Magnesium AZ91D?

Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 72 W/m·K for Magnesium AZ91D.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 2024-T351 expands less: 22.9 µm/m·K against 25 µm/m·K for Magnesium AZ91D.

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