Materials / Compare

Aluminum A380 vs. Brass C360

Compare Aluminum A380 vs. Brass C360 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Aluminum A380Cast
Brass C360Wrought
MechanicalAluminum A380Brass C360
Yield strength160MPa1310MPa21.94x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength320MPa1400MPa225% stronger
Elongation at break3.5%125%27.14x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)71GPa196.5GPa236% stiffer
Density2,713kg/m³13.13x lighter8,498kg/m³2
Strength to weight59kN·m/kg1.62x higher36.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.2MN·m/kg2.3x higher11.4MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.333base material0.344
Shear modulus26.7GPa36GPa35% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus69.6GPa101GPa44% higher
Speed of sound5,116m/s1.52x faster3,370m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Copper 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 SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Brass C360
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-T6Copper 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 SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Brass C360
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalAluminum A380Brass C360
Thermal conductivity96.2W/m·K1116W/m·K221% more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion21.8µm/m·K120.5µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing109µm growth103µm growth6% less
Specific heat963J/kg·K12.56x higher377J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)36.8mm²/s2% faster36.2mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance6,669W/m11,997W/m1.8x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourcedsolidus-liquidus888–899°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Copper 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 SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Brass C360
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-T6Copper 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 SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Brass C360
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Rheocast Company, Copper Development Association, North American Die Casting Association, Wieland
Aluminum A380
A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page.
Brass C360
C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values
  1. 1
    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
  2. 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. 3
    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
  4. 4
    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 A380 stronger than Brass C360?

Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 160 MPa for Aluminum A380 (1.94x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or Brass C360?

Aluminum A380 is lighter: 2,713 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or Brass C360?

Brass C360 is stiffer: Young's modulus 96.5 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum A380, so the same part in Brass C360 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or Brass C360?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum A380 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 beAluminum A380Brass C360
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2.3x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.69x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.83x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.62x heavier
Strong beamlighter2.02x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.25x 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 A380 or Brass C360?

Brass C360 stretches further before it breaks: 25% elongation at break against 3.5% for Aluminum A380.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum A380 or Brass C360?

Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 96.2 W/m·K for Aluminum A380.

Which expands less with temperature?

Brass C360 expands less: 20.5 µm/m·K against 21.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum A380.

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