Aluminum 7075-T6 vs. Aluminum A380

Compare Aluminum 7075-T6 vs. Aluminum A380 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 7075-T6	Aluminum A380
Yield strength	503MPa13.14x stronger	160MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	572MPa11.79x stronger	320MPa2
Elongation at break	11%13.14x more ductile	3.5%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	71GPa1	71GPa2
Density	2,800kg/m³3	2,713kg/m³2
Strength to weight	180kN·m/kg3.05x higher	59kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.4MN·m/kg	26.2MN·m/kg3% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.334	0.335
Shear modulus	26.7GPa	26.7GPa
Bulk modulus	69.6GPa	69.6GPa
Speed of sound	5,036m/s	5,116m/s2% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum 7075-T6	Aluminum A380
Thermal conductivity	130W/m·K335% more heat through a fin	96.2W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	23.4µm/m·K3	21.8µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	117µm growth	109µm growth7% less
Specific heat	960J/kg·K3	963J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	48.4mm²/s31% faster	36.8mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	26,370W/m3.95x more resistant	6,669W/m
Melting point	melting range532–635°C3	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, Rheocast Company, U.S. Department of Defense, North American Die Casting Association

Aluminum 7075-T6: 7075-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum rod & bar (mechanical) and sheet/coil/plate (physical) typical datasheets; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Aluminum A380: A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page.

1
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
2
Alloy Aluminum: A380Rheocast CompanyAluminum A380 · Yield strength: typical, 25 °CAluminum A380 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 25 °CAluminum A380 · Elongation at break: typicalAluminum A380 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 25 °CAluminum A380 · Density: typical at 68 °FAluminum A380 · Thermal conductivity: typical at 68 °FAluminum A380 · Thermal expansion: typical, 68-572 °F (20-300 °C)Aluminum A380 · Specific heat: typical at 68 °F
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 7075-T6 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)
5
Product Design for Die Casting, Table 4.1: Die Casting Alloys Material Properties ComparisonNorth American Die Casting Associationarchived copyAluminum A380 · Poisson's ratio: typical, as-cast, separately die cast specimens

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 7075-T6 stronger than Aluminum A380?

Aluminum 7075-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 503 MPa against 160 MPa for Aluminum A380 (3.14x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Aluminum A380?

Aluminum A380 is lighter: 2,713 kg/m³ against 2,800 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7075-T6.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Aluminum A380?

Aluminum 7075-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 71 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum A380, so the same part in Aluminum 7075-T6 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Aluminum A380?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 7075-T6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Aluminum A380 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 7075-T6	Aluminum A380
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	3% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	3% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	3% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	3.05x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	2.08x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	1.72x 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 7075-T6 or Aluminum A380?

Aluminum 7075-T6 stretches further before it breaks: 11% elongation at break against 3.5% for Aluminum A380.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Aluminum A380?

Aluminum 7075-T6 conducts heat better: 130 W/m·K against 96.2 W/m·K for Aluminum A380.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum A380 expands less: 21.8 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 7075-T6.