Aluminum 7050-T7451 vs. Aluminum 7075-T6

Compare Aluminum 7050-T7451 vs. Aluminum 7075-T6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 7050-T7451	Aluminum 7075-T6
Yield strength	469MPa1	503MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	524MPa1	572MPa2
Elongation at break	11%1	11%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	70.3GPa1	71GPa2
Density	2,830kg/m³1	2,800kg/m³3
Strength to weight	166kN·m/kg	180kN·m/kg8% higher
Stiffness to weight	24.8MN·m/kg	25.4MN·m/kg2% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.334	0.334
Shear modulus	26.4GPa	26.7GPa
Bulk modulus	68.9GPa	69.6GPa
Speed of sound	4,984m/s	5,036m/s1% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum 7050-T7451	Aluminum 7075-T6
Thermal conductivity	157W/m·K121% more heat through a fin	130W/m·K3
Thermal expansion	23.5µm/m·K1	23.4µm/m·K3
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	118µm growth	117µm growth
Specific heat	860J/kg·K1	960J/kg·K312% higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	64.5mm²/s33% faster	48.4mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	29,862W/m13% more resistant	26,370W/m
Melting point	melting range524–635°C1	melting range532–635°C3

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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Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, U.S. Department of Defense

Aluminum 7050-T7451: 7050-T7451 plate, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet (longitudinal); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Aluminum 7075-T6: 7075-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum rod & bar (mechanical) and sheet/coil/plate (physical) typical datasheets; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J

1
Alloy 7050 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 7050-T7451 · Yield strength: typical, longitudinal, 0.2% offsetAluminum 7050-T7451 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, longitudinalAluminum 7050-T7451 · Elongation at break: typical, longitudinalAluminum 7050-T7451 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 7050-T7451 · Density: nominalAluminum 7050-T7451 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CAluminum 7050-T7451 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 7050-T7451 · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum 7050-T7451 · Melting point: melting range
2
Alloy 7075 Rod & Bar Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 7075-T6 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum 7075-T6 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 7075-T6 · Elongation at break: typical, in 4DAluminum 7075-T6 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical
3
Alloy 7075 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 7075-T6 · Density: nominalAluminum 7075-T6 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °C, T651Aluminum 7075-T6 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 7075-T6 · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum 7075-T6 · Melting point: melting range
4
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum 7050-T7451 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)Aluminum 7075-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 7050-T7451 stronger than Aluminum 7075-T6?

Aluminum 7075-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 503 MPa against 469 MPa for Aluminum 7050-T7451 (7%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Aluminum 7075-T6?

Aluminum 7075-T6 is lighter: 2,800 kg/m³ against 2,830 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7050-T7451.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Aluminum 7075-T6?

Aluminum 7075-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 71 GPa against 70.3 GPa for Aluminum 7050-T7451, so the same part in Aluminum 7075-T6 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Aluminum 7075-T6?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 7075-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 be	Aluminum 7050-T7451	Aluminum 7075-T6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	2% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	2% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	1% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	8% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	6% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	5% 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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or Aluminum 7075-T6?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 conducts heat better: 157 W/m·K against 130 W/m·K for Aluminum 7075-T6.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 7075-T6 expands less: 23.4 µm/m·K against 23.5 µm/m·K for Aluminum 7050-T7451.