Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, U.S. Department of Defense
Aluminum
6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
Aluminum 7075-T6
7075-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum rod & bar (mechanical) and sheet/coil/plate (physical) typical datasheets; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
1
Alloy 6061 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum · Elongation at break: typical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimenAluminum · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum · Density: nominalAluminum · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CAluminum · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
2
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
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 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)Aluminum 7075-T6 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)
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 stronger than Aluminum 7075-T6?
Aluminum 7075-T6 is stronger: its yield strength is 503 MPa against 276 MPa for Aluminum (1.82x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum or Aluminum 7075-T6?
Aluminum is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 2,800 kg/m³ for Aluminum 7075-T6.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum or Aluminum 7075-T6?
Aluminum 7075-T6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 71 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum, so the same part in Aluminum 7075-T6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or Aluminum 7075-T6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Aluminum 7075-T6 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum
Aluminum 7075-T6
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
about equal
about equal
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
2% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2% heavier
Strong rod or tie
1.76x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
44% heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
30% 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 or Aluminum 7075-T6?
Aluminum stretches further before it breaks: 17% elongation at break against 11% for Aluminum 7075-T6.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum or Aluminum 7075-T6?
Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 130 W/m·K for Aluminum 7075-T6.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum 7075-T6 expands less: 23.4 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum.