Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 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 7075-T6
7075-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum rod & bar (mechanical) and sheet/coil/plate (physical) typical datasheets; 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 7075 Rod & Bar Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 7075-T6 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum 7075-T6 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 7075-T6 · Elongation at break: typical, in 4DAluminum 7075-T6 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical
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 7075-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
4
Alloy 7075 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 7075-T6 · Density: nominalAluminum 7075-T6 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °C, T651Aluminum 7075-T6 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 7075-T6 · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum 7075-T6 · Melting point: melting range
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 7075-T6?
Aluminum 7075-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 503 MPa against 195 MPa for Aluminum 5052-H32 (2.58x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 7075-T6?
Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter: 2,685 kg/m³ against 2,800 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7075-T6.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 7075-T6?
Aluminum 7075-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 71 GPa against 70 GPa for Aluminum 5052-H32, so the same part in Aluminum 7075-T6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 7075-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 7075-T6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 5052-H32
Aluminum 7075-T6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
3% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
4% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
4% heavier
Strong rod or tie
2.47x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.8x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.54x 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).
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum 7075-T6?
Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 130 W/m·K for Aluminum 7075-T6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 7075-T6 expands less: 23.4 µm/m·K against 23.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.