Aluminum A380 vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum

Compare Aluminum A380 vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical	Aluminum A380	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Yield strength	160MPa1	270MPa21.69x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	320MPa1	450MPa241% stronger
Elongation at break	3.5%1	10.2%22.91x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	71GPa1	72GPa3
Density	2,713kg/m³1	2,670kg/m³4
Strength to weight	59kN·m/kg	101kN·m/kg1.71x higher
Stiffness to weight	26.2MN·m/kg	27MN·m/kg3% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.335	base material0.336
Shear modulus	26.7GPa	27.1GPa1% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	69.6GPa	70.6GPa1% higher
Speed of sound	5,116m/s	5,193m/s2% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum A380	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Thermal conductivity	96.2W/m·K1	110W/m·K214% more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	21.8µm/m·K1	mean 25-100 °C20µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	109µm growth	100µm growth9% less
Specific heat	963J/kg·K1	base material963J/kg·K6
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	36.8mm²/s	42.8mm²/s16% faster
Thermal shock resistance	6,669W/m	13,819W/m2.07x more resistant

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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Sources6 documents: Rheocast Company, EOS GmbH, Renishaw, North American Die Casting Association, U.S. Department of Defense

Aluminum A380: A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page.
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 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
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
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
6
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseDMLS 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 A380 stronger than DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 160 MPa for Aluminum A380 (1.69x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 2,713 kg/m³ for Aluminum A380.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum A380, so the same part in DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 A380	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	3% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	2% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	1.71x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	44% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	32% 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).

Which is more ductile, Aluminum A380 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum stretches further before it breaks: 10.2% elongation at break against 3.5% for Aluminum A380.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum A380 or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 96.2 W/m·K for Aluminum A380.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 21.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum A380.