Aluminum 7050-T7451 vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum

Compare Aluminum 7050-T7451 vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical	Aluminum 7050-T7451	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Yield strength	469MPa11.74x stronger	270MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	524MPa116% stronger	450MPa2
Elongation at break	11%1	10.2%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	70.3GPa1	72GPa3
Density	2,830kg/m³1	2,670kg/m³4
Strength to weight	166kN·m/kg1.64x higher	101kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	24.8MN·m/kg	27MN·m/kg9% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.335	base material0.335
Shear modulus	26.4GPa	27.1GPa2% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	68.9GPa	70.6GPa2% higher
Speed of sound	4,984m/s	5,193m/s4% 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	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Thermal conductivity	157W/m·K143% more heat through a fin	110W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	23.5µm/m·K1	mean 25-100 °C20µm/m·K218% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	118µm growth	100µm growth18% less
Specific heat	860J/kg·K1	base material963J/kg·K5
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	64.5mm²/s1.51x faster	42.8mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	29,862W/m2.16x more resistant	13,819W/m
Melting point	melting range524–635°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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Sources5 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, EOS GmbH, Renishaw, U.S. Department of Defense

Aluminum 7050-T7451: 7050-T7451 plate, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet (longitudinal); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
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 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
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 DefenseAluminum 7050-T7451 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)DMLS 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

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 7050-T7451 stronger than DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 is stronger: its yield strength is 469 MPa against 270 MPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum (1.74x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 2,830 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7050-T7451.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 70.3 GPa for Aluminum 7050-T7451, so the same part in DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 7050-T7451 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 7050-T7451	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	9% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	7% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	7% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.64x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	36% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	24% 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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 7050-T7451 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

Aluminum 7050-T7451 conducts heat better: 157 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 23.5 µm/m·K for Aluminum 7050-T7451.