Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Aluminum ADC12

Compare Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. Aluminum ADC12 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 6063-T6	Aluminum ADC12
Yield strength	215MPa144% stronger	one test result149MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	240MPa1	one test result345MPa244% stronger
Elongation at break	12%15.22x more ductile	one test result2.3%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPa1	standard value79.8GPa316% stiffer
Density	2,700kg/m³1	measured2,680kg/m³4
Strength to weight	79.6kN·m/kg43% higher	55.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.6MN·m/kg	29.8MN·m/kg17% higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	5,055m/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 6063-T6	Aluminum ADC12
Thermal conductivity	201W/m·K11.61x more heat through a fin	125W/m·K4
Thermal expansion	23.4µm/m·K1	measured21µm/m·K411% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	117µm growth	105µm growth11% less
Specific heat	901J/kg·K5	measured911J/kg·K4
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	82.6mm²/s1.61x faster	51.2mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	melting range615–655°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, Hydro

Aluminum 6063-T6: 6063-T6 extruded tube, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 6063 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from Hydro EN AW-6063 extruded-products datasheet (Rev.4, 03/2023).
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 6063 Tube & Pipe Technical Data, Rev. 05/06Kaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 6063-T6 · Yield strength: typical, T6, 0.0625 in specimenAluminum 6063-T6 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, T6Aluminum 6063-T6 · Elongation at break: typical, T6, in 4DAluminum 6063-T6 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 6063-T6 · Density: nominal, 20 °CAluminum 6063-T6 · Thermal conductivity: typical, T6, 20 °CAluminum 6063-T6 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 6063-T6 · 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
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
Technical Datasheet, Extruded Products: Alloy EN AW-6063 (Rev. 4, 2023)Hydroarchived copyAluminum 6063-T6 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °C (Hydro EN AW-6063)

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 6063-T6 stronger than Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 215 MPa against 149 MPa for Aluminum ADC12 (44%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum ADC12 is lighter: 2,680 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 6063-T6, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6063-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 6063-T6	Aluminum ADC12
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	17% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	8% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	6% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	43% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	27% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	19% 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 6063-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum 6063-T6 stretches further before it breaks: 12% elongation at break against 2.3% for Aluminum ADC12.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 6063-T6 or Aluminum ADC12?

Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 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 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.