Materials / Compare

Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. PCB Laminate FR-4

Compare Aluminum 6063-T6 vs. PCB Laminate FR-4 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Aluminum 6063-T6Wrought
PCB Laminate FR-4Composite
MechanicalAluminum 6063-T6PCB Laminate FR-4
Yield strength215MPa1not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength240MPa1246–385MPa2
Flexural strengthnot sourced531–621MPa2
Elongation at break12%1not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)69GPa121.9–25.8GPa2
Density2,700kg/m³11,920kg/m³341% lighter
Strength to weight79.6kN·m/kg164kN·m/kg2.06x higher
Stiffness to weight25.6MN·m/kg2.06x higher12.4MN·m/kg
Poisson's rationot sourced0.171–0.1772
Shear modulusnot sourced10.2GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced12.2GPa
Speed of sound5,055m/s43% faster3,525m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 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-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 SteelConcreteSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6063-T6PCB Laminate FR-4
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-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-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 SteelBrickSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6063-T6PCB Laminate FR-4
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalAluminum 6063-T6PCB Laminate FR-4
Thermal conductivity201W/m·K1503x more heat through a fin0.4W/m·K2
Thermal expansion23.4µm/m·K113–14µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing117µm growth67.5µm growth1.73x less
Specific heat901J/kg·K41,200–1,400J/kg·K3
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)82.6mm²/s516x faster0.16mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced324W/m
Melting pointmelting range615–655°C1not sourced
Glass transitionnot sourced180°C2
Max service temperaturenot sourced130°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 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-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 SteelConcreteBrickSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6063-T6PCB Laminate FR-4
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-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-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 SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 6063-T6PCB Laminate FR-4
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Isola, Park Electrochemical (Nelco), 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).
PCB Laminate FR-4
Isola 370HR FR-4 laminate (Polyclad PCL-FR-370HR, 180 C Tg multifunctional epoxy, E-glass fabric), copper removed; Isola data sheet Revision C, last updated April 15, 2021. Woven-glass laminate: the sheet gives in-plane values per weave direction (length / cross) and the Z-axis CTE separately; the solver is isotropic per material.
  1. 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. 2
    370HR Laminate and Prepreg Data SheetIsolaarchived copyPCB Laminate FR-4 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Flexural strength: typical: cross direction .. length direction (IPC-TM-650 2.4.4B)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Poisson's ratio: typical, in-plane: cross direction .. length directionPCB Laminate FR-4 · Thermal conductivity: typical (ASTM E1952); direction not stated by the sheetPCB Laminate FR-4 · Thermal expansion: typical, in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Glass transition: typical, DSC (IPC-TM-650 2.4.25C)PCB Laminate FR-4 · Max service temperature: UL Relative Thermal Index (UL 796)
  3. 3
    N4000-6 Laminate Data Sheet (2006)Park Electrochemical (Nelco)archived copyPCB Laminate FR-4 · Density: typical, 50% resin content; another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HRPCB Laminate FR-4 · Specific heat: typical (ASTM E1461); another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR
  4. 4
    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 PCB Laminate FR-4?

PCB Laminate FR-4 is stronger: its tensile strength is 315 MPa against yield strength 215 MPa for Aluminum 6063-T6 (47%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6063-T6 or PCB Laminate FR-4?

PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter: 1,920 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum 6063-T6.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6063-T6 or PCB Laminate FR-4?

Aluminum 6063-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 69 GPa against 23.9 GPa for PCB Laminate FR-4, so the same part in Aluminum 6063-T6 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6063-T6 or PCB Laminate FR-4?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6063-T6 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 6063-T6PCB Laminate FR-4
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2.06x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter21% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter1% heavier
Strong rod or tie2.06x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.82x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1.7x heavierlighter

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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 6063-T6 or PCB Laminate FR-4?

Aluminum 6063-T6 conducts heat better: 201 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for PCB Laminate FR-4.

Which expands less with temperature?

PCB Laminate FR-4 expands less: 13.5 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6063-T6.

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