Materials / Compare

Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Zinc Zamak 3

Compare Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. Zinc Zamak 3 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Aluminum 6061-T6Wrought
Zinc Zamak 3Cast
MechanicalAluminum 6061-T6Zinc Zamak 3
Yield strength276MPa125% stronger221MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength310MPa1283MPa2
Elongation at break17%11.7x more ductile10%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)68.3GPa185.5GPa225% stiffer
Density2,700kg/m³12.44x lighter6,600kg/m³2
Strength to weight102kN·m/kg3.05x higher33.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg1.95x higher13MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.3330.274
Shear modulus25.7GPa33.7GPa31% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus67GPa8% higher62GPa
Speed of sound5,030m/s40% faster3,599m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Plastic 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 6061-T6Zinc Zamak 3
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 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Plastic 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 6061-T6Zinc Zamak 3
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalAluminum 6061-T6Zinc Zamak 3
Thermal conductivity167W/m·K148% more heat through a fin113W/m·K2
Thermal expansion23.6µm/m·K116% less27.4µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing118µm growth16% less137µm growth
Specific heat896J/kg·K12.14x higher419J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)69mm²/s1.69x faster40.9mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance19,159W/m2.46x more resistant7,782W/m
Melting pointsolidus-liquidus582–652°C1melting range381–387°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Plastic 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 6061-T6Zinc Zamak 3
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 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Plastic 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 6061-T6Zinc Zamak 3
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Nathan Trotter, U.S. Department of Defense, Eastern Alloys
Aluminum 6061-T6
6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Zinc Zamak 3
Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 die cast), Nathan Trotter (zinc alloy producer) technical data sheet, typical values
  1. 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. 2
    Zamak 3 Technical Data SheetNathan Trotterarchived copyZinc Zamak 3 · Yield strength: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Elongation at break: typical, in 2 in.Zinc Zamak 3 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Density: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Thermal conductivity: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Thermal expansion: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Specific heat: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Melting point: melting range
  3. 3
    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)
  4. 4
    Zinc Die Casting Properties Guide (2012)Eastern AlloysZinc Zamak 3 · Poisson's ratio: typical, Zamak 3 hot-chamber die cast

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 Zinc Zamak 3?

Aluminum 6061-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 221 MPa for Zinc Zamak 3 (25%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 6,600 kg/m³ for Zinc Zamak 3.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 is stiffer: Young's modulus 85.5 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum 6061-T6, so the same part in Zinc Zamak 3 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Zinc Zamak 3?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6061-T6 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 6061-T6Zinc Zamak 3
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter1.95x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.18x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.27x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter3.05x heavier
Strong beamlighter2.83x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.73x 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 Zinc Zamak 3?

Aluminum 6061-T6 stretches further before it breaks: 17% elongation at break against 10% for Zinc Zamak 3.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 6061-T6 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 113 W/m·K for Zinc Zamak 3.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 6061-T6 expands less: 23.6 µm/m·K against 27.4 µm/m·K for Zinc Zamak 3.

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