Aluminum 7075-T6 vs. Brass C360

Compare Aluminum 7075-T6 vs. Brass C360 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 7075-T6	Brass C360
Yield strength	503MPa11.62x stronger	310MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	572MPa143% stronger	400MPa2
Elongation at break	11%1	25%22.27x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	71GPa1	96.5GPa236% stiffer
Density	2,800kg/m³33.04x lighter	8,498kg/m³2
Strength to weight	180kN·m/kg4.92x higher	36.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.4MN·m/kg2.23x higher	11.4MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.334	base material0.345
Shear modulus	26.7GPa	36GPa35% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	69.6GPa	101GPa44% higher
Speed of sound	5,036m/s49% faster	3,370m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum 7075-T6	Brass C360
Thermal conductivity	130W/m·K312% more heat through a fin	116W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	23.4µm/m·K3	20.5µm/m·K214% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	117µm growth	103µm growth14% less
Specific heat	960J/kg·K32.55x higher	377J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	48.4mm²/s34% faster	36.2mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	26,370W/m2.2x more resistant	11,997W/m
Melting point	melting range532–635°C3	solidus-liquidus888–899°C2

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, Copper Development Association, U.S. Department of Defense, Wieland

Aluminum 7075-T6: 7075-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum rod & bar (mechanical) and sheet/coil/plate (physical) typical datasheets; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Brass C360: C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values

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
C36000 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyBrass C360 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under loadBrass C360 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalBrass C360 · Elongation at break: typical, 1 in. rodBrass C360 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, temper-independentBrass C360 · Density: nominalBrass C360 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CBrass C360 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-300 °CBrass C360 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CBrass C360 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
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
Wieland-Z30 (CuZn39Pb2, C37700) Data SheetWielandarchived copyBrass C360 · Poisson's ratio: base material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature

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 Brass C360?

Aluminum 7075-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 503 MPa against 310 MPa for Brass C360 (1.62x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Brass C360?

Aluminum 7075-T6 is lighter: 2,800 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Brass C360?

Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum 7075-T6, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Brass C360?

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 7075-T6	Brass C360
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	2.23x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2.6x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2.74x heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	4.92x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	4.19x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	3.87x 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 Brass C360?

Brass C360 stretches further before it breaks: 25% elongation at break against 11% for Aluminum 7075-T6.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 7075-T6 or Brass C360?

Aluminum 7075-T6 conducts heat better: 130 W/m·K against 116 W/m·K for Brass C360.

Which expands less with temperature?

Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 7075-T6.