Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Aluminum ADC12

Compare Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Aluminum ADC12 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 6061-T6	Aluminum ADC12
Yield strength	276MPa11.85x stronger	one test result149MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	310MPa1	one test result345MPa211% stronger
Elongation at break	17%17.39x more ductile	one test result2.3%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	68.3GPa1	standard value79.8GPa317% stiffer
Density	2,700kg/m³1	measured2,680kg/m³4
Strength to weight	102kN·m/kg1.84x higher	55.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg	29.8MN·m/kg18% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.335	not sourced
Shear modulus	25.7GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	67GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	5,030m/s	5,457m/s8% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum 6061-T6	Aluminum ADC12
Thermal conductivity	167W/m·K134% more heat through a fin	125W/m·K4
Thermal expansion	23.6µm/m·K1	measured21µm/m·K412% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	118µm growth	105µm growth12% less
Specific heat	896J/kg·K1	measured911J/kg·K4
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	69mm²/s35% faster	51.2mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	19,159W/m	not sourced
Melting point	solidus-liquidus582–652°C1	solidus-liquidus515–582°C4

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 6061-T6: 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
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 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
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
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)
5
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum 6061-T6 · Poisson's ratio: typical (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 6061-T6 stronger than Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum 6061-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 149 MPa for Aluminum ADC12 (1.85x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum ADC12 is lighter: 2,680 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6061-T6.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum 6061-T6, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6061-T6 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 6061-T6	Aluminum ADC12
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	18% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	9% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	6% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.84x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	50% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	35% 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 6061-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum 6061-T6 stretches further before it breaks: 17% elongation at break against 2.3% for Aluminum ADC12.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 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 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6061-T6.