Materials / Compare

Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Brass C360

Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. Brass C360 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Aluminum 5052-H32Wrought
Brass C360Wrought
MechanicalAluminum 5052-H32Brass C360
Yield strength195MPa1310MPa21.59x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength230MPa1400MPa21.74x stronger
Elongation at break12%125%22.08x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)70GPa196.5GPa238% stiffer
Density2,685kg/m³33.16x lighter8,498kg/m³2
Strength to weight72.6kN·m/kg1.99x higher36.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.1MN·m/kg2.3x higher11.4MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.333base material0.344
Shear modulus26.3GPa36GPa37% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus68.6GPa101GPa46% higher
Speed of sound5,106m/s1.52x faster3,370m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 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 ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 5052-H32Brass C360
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-T6Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 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 ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 5052-H32Brass C360
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalAluminum 5052-H32Brass C360
Thermal conductivitybase material138W/m·K119% more heat through a fin116W/m·K2
Thermal expansion23.8µm/m·K120.5µm/m·K216% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing119µm growth103µm growth16% less
Specific heatat 100 °C963J/kg·K32.56x higher377J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)53.4mm²/s47% faster36.2mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance10,822W/m11,997W/m11% more resistant
Melting pointmelting range605–650°C1solidus-liquidus888–899°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 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 ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 5052-H32Brass C360
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-T6Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 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 ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 5052-H32Brass C360
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Copper Development Association, U.S. Department of Defense, Wieland
Aluminum 5052-H32
5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)
Brass C360
C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values
  1. 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. 2
    C36000 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyBrass C360 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under loadBrass C360 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalBrass C360 · Elongation at break: typical, 1 in. rodBrass C360 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, temper-independentBrass C360 · Density: nominalBrass C360 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CBrass C360 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-300 °CBrass C360 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CBrass C360 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
  3. 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 5052-H32 · Specific heat: at 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38
  4. 4
    Wieland-Z30 (CuZn39Pb2, C37700) Data SheetWielandarchived copyBrass C360 · Poisson's ratio: base material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature

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 Brass C360?

Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 195 MPa for Aluminum 5052-H32 (1.59x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Brass C360?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter: 2,685 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Brass C360?

Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 70 GPa for Aluminum 5052-H32, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Brass C360?

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, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 5052-H32Brass C360
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2.3x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.7x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.84x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.99x heavier
Strong beamlighter2.32x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.51x 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 Brass C360?

Brass C360 stretches further before it breaks: 25% elongation at break against 12% for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 5052-H32 or Brass C360?

Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 116 W/m·K for Brass C360.

Which expands less with temperature?

Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 µm/m·K against 23.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.

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