Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum

Compare Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical	Aluminum 6063-T6	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Yield strength	215MPa1	270MPa226% stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	240MPa1	450MPa21.88x stronger
Elongation at break	12%118% more ductile	10.2%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPa1	72GPa3
Density	2,700kg/m³1	2,670kg/m³4
Strength to weight	79.6kN·m/kg	101kN·m/kg27% higher
Stiffness to weight	25.6MN·m/kg	27MN·m/kg6% higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	base material0.335
Shear modulus	not sourced	27.1GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	70.6GPa
Speed of sound	5,055m/s	5,193m/s3% 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	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Thermal conductivity	201W/m·K11.83x more heat through a fin	110W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	23.4µm/m·K1	mean 25-100 °C20µm/m·K217% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	117µm growth	100µm growth17% less
Specific heat	901J/kg·K6	base material963J/kg·K5
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	82.6mm²/s1.93x faster	42.8mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	13,819W/m
Melting point	melting range615–655°C1	not sourced

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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Sources6 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, EOS GmbH, Renishaw, U.S. Department of Defense, 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).
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum: EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10

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
EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data SheetEOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Yield strength: typical, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Elongation at break: typical at break, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Thermal conductivity: typical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2)DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Thermal expansion: mean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
3
RenAM 500 Series Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data SheetRenishawDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Young's modulus (stiffness): same material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY)
4
EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data Sheet, FlexLine, M 290 (2018)EOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Density: typical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm)
5
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Poisson's ratio: base material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000)DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Specific heat: base material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C
6
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.

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Aluminum 6063-T6 stronger than DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 215 MPa for Aluminum 6063-T6 (26%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 6063-T6, so the same part in DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6063-T6 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 be	Aluminum 6063-T6	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	6% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	3% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	3% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	27% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	18% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	13% heavier	lighter

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 DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

Aluminum 6063-T6 stretches further before it breaks: 12% elongation at break against 10.2% for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 6063-T6 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 W/m·K against 110 W/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.