Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Aluminum 6061-T6

Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Aluminum 6061-T6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 5052-H32	Aluminum 6061-T6
Yield strength	195MPa1	276MPa242% stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	230MPa1	310MPa235% stronger
Elongation at break	12%1	17%242% more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	70GPa1	68.3GPa2
Density	2,685kg/m³3	2,700kg/m³2
Strength to weight	72.6kN·m/kg	102kN·m/kg41% higher
Stiffness to weight	26.1MN·m/kg3% higher	25.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.333	0.333
Shear modulus	26.3GPa2% stiffer in shear	25.7GPa
Bulk modulus	68.6GPa2% higher	67GPa
Speed of sound	5,106m/s2% faster	5,030m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum 5052-H32	Aluminum 6061-T6
Thermal conductivity	base material138W/m·K1	167W/m·K221% more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	23.8µm/m·K1	23.6µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	119µm growth	118µm growth
Specific heat	at 100 °C963J/kg·K3	896J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	53.4mm²/s	69mm²/s29% faster
Thermal shock resistance	10,822W/m	19,159W/m1.77x more resistant
Melting point	melting range605–650°C1	solidus-liquidus582–652°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources3 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, U.S. Department of Defense

Aluminum 5052-H32: 5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)
Aluminum 6061-T6: 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J

1
Alloy 5052 Tube & Pipe Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 5052-H32 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offsetAluminum 5052-H32 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Elongation at break: typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Thermal conductivity: base material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 5052-H32 · Melting point: melting range
2
Alloy 6061 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 6061-T6 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum 6061-T6 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 6061-T6 · Elongation at break: typical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimenAluminum 6061-T6 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 6061-T6 · Density: nominalAluminum 6061-T6 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CAluminum 6061-T6 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 6061-T6 · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum 6061-T6 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
3
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum 5052-H32 · Density: nominalAluminum 5052-H32 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)Aluminum 6061-T6 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)Aluminum 5052-H32 · Specific heat: at 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38

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 5052-H32 stronger than Aluminum 6061-T6?

Aluminum 6061-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 195 MPa for Aluminum 5052-H32 (42%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 6061-T6?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter: 2,685 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6061-T6.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 6061-T6?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum 6061-T6, so the same part in Aluminum 5052-H32 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 6061-T6?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 5052-H32	Aluminum 6061-T6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	3% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	1% heavier
Strong rod or tie	41% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	25% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	18% 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 is more ductile, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 6061-T6?

Aluminum 6061-T6 stretches further before it breaks: 17% elongation at break against 12% for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 6061-T6?

Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 138 W/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 6061-T6 expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 23.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.