Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Aluminum ADC12

Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Aluminum ADC12 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 5052-H32	Aluminum ADC12
Yield strength	195MPa131% stronger	one test result149MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	230MPa1	one test result345MPa21.5x stronger
Elongation at break	12%15.22x more ductile	one test result2.3%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	70GPa1	standard value79.8GPa314% stiffer
Density	2,685kg/m³4	measured2,680kg/m³5
Strength to weight	72.6kN·m/kg31% higher	55.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	26.1MN·m/kg	29.8MN·m/kg14% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.334	not sourced
Shear modulus	26.3GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	68.6GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	5,106m/s	5,457m/s7% faster

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 ADC12
Thermal conductivity	base material138W/m·K1	125W/m·K5
Thermal expansion	23.8µm/m·K1	measured21µm/m·K513% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	119µm growth	105µm growth13% less
Specific heat	at 100 °C963J/kg·K4	measured911J/kg·K5
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	53.4mm²/s4% faster	51.2mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	10,822W/m	not sourced
Melting point	melting range605–650°C1	solidus-liquidus515–582°C5

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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Sources5 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Daiki Aluminium Industry, S.S. 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 ADC12: JIS ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu, about A383 / EN AC-46100) high-pressure die-casting alloy, as cast; physical properties from Daiki Aluminium Industry (ADC12 ingot producer) measured values; modulus from S.S.Aluminum (ADC12 ingot producer) standard values.

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
NA Alloys Product DataDaiki Aluminium IndustryAluminum ADC12 · Yield strength: one test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Ultimate tensile strength: one test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Elongation at break: one test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)
3
Die-Casting Alloys (ダイカスト用合金)S.S. AluminumAluminum ADC12 · Young's modulus (stiffness): standard value (S.S.Aluminum)
4
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 5052-H32 · Specific heat: at 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38
5
DIK365 Product DataDaiki Aluminium IndustryAluminum ADC12 · Density: measured (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Thermal conductivity: measured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Thermal expansion: measured, temperature range not stated (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Specific heat: measured (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus (Daiki)

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 ADC12?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 149 MPa for Aluminum ADC12 (31%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum ADC12 is lighter: 2,680 kg/m³ against 2,685 kg/m³ for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 70 GPa for Aluminum 5052-H32, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum ADC12?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Aluminum ADC12 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 5052-H32	Aluminum ADC12
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	14% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	7% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	5% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	31% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	19% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	14% heavier

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 ADC12?

Aluminum 5052-H32 stretches further before it breaks: 12% elongation at break against 2.3% for Aluminum ADC12.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 125 W/m·K for Aluminum ADC12.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum ADC12 expands less: 21 µm/m·K against 23.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.