Magnesium AZ31B-H24 vs. Plastic LCP GF30

Compare Magnesium AZ31B-H24 vs. Plastic LCP GF30 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Plastic LCP GF30Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	Magnesium AZ31B-H24	Plastic LCP GF30
Yield strength	220MPa1	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	290MPa12.52x stronger	tensile strength115MPa2
Flexural strength	not sourced	184MPa2
Elongation at break	13%18.67x more ductile	tensile elongation1.5%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	44.8GPa33.9x stiffer	tensile modulus11.5GPa2
Density	1,769kg/m³3	1,610kg/m³2
Strength to weight	124kN·m/kg1.74x higher	71.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg3.55x higher	7.14MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.353	not sourced
Shear modulus	16.6GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	49.8GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	5,032m/s1.88x faster	2,673m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Magnesium AZ31B-H24	Plastic LCP GF30
Thermal conductivity	76.9W/m·K1154x more heat through a fin	hot disk0.5W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	26.8µm/m·K1	flow direction20µm/m·K234% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	134µm growth	100µm growth34% less
Specific heat	1,040J/kg·K124% higher	ASTM E1269839J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	41.8mm²/s113x faster	0.37mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	9,159W/m	not sourced
Max service temperature	149°C3	HDT 1.8 MPa288°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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Sources3 documents: Magnesium Elektron, Sumitomo Chemical, U.S. Department of Defense

Magnesium AZ31B-H24: AZ31B-H24 sheet 0.016-0.062 in., MIL-HDBK-5J Table 4.2.1.0(b) (AMS 4377); strengths are S-basis MINIMUMS
Plastic LCP GF30: Sumitomo Chemical SUMIKASUPER LCP E6006L (30% glass fibre; high strength, low shrinkage); SUMIKASUPER LCP Technical Note, Version 04 / Nov. 2023, typical values.

1
Elektron AZ31B Sheet, Plate & Coil (Datasheet 482)Magnesium Elektronarchived copyMagnesium AZ31B-H24 · Yield strength: typical, H24, 0.5-6 mm, 0.2 % proof stressMagnesium AZ31B-H24 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, H24, 0.5-6 mmMagnesium AZ31B-H24 · Elongation at break: typical, H24, 0.5-6 mm, gauge 5.65√AMagnesium AZ31B-H24 · Thermal conductivity: typical (temper/temperature not stated)Magnesium AZ31B-H24 · Thermal expansion: typical (temperature range not stated)Magnesium AZ31B-H24 · Specific heat: typical
2
SUMIKASUPER LCP Technical Note, Version 04 (2023)Sumitomo Chemicalarchived copyPlastic LCP GF30 · Ultimate tensile strength: tensile strength (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Flexural strength: typical (ISO 178)Plastic LCP GF30 · Elongation at break: tensile elongation (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Young's modulus (stiffness): tensile modulus (ISO 527)Plastic LCP GF30 · Density: typicalPlastic LCP GF30 · Thermal conductivity: hot disk (ISO 22007-2), temperature not statedPlastic LCP GF30 · Thermal expansion: flow direction (MD), mean 50-150 °CPlastic LCP GF30 · Specific heat: ASTM E1269, temperature not statedPlastic LCP GF30 · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa (ISO 75)
3
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseMagnesium AZ31B-H24 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical (handbook physical constant)Magnesium AZ31B-H24 · Density: nominalMagnesium AZ31B-H24 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)Magnesium AZ31B-H24 · Max service temperature: stated application limit

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 Magnesium AZ31B-H24 stronger than Plastic LCP GF30?

Magnesium AZ31B-H24 is stronger: its yield strength is 220 MPa against tensile strength 115 MPa for Plastic LCP GF30 (1.91x).

Which is lighter, Magnesium AZ31B-H24 or Plastic LCP GF30?

Plastic LCP GF30 is lighter: 1,610 kg/m³ against 1,769 kg/m³ for Magnesium AZ31B-H24.

Which is stiffer, Magnesium AZ31B-H24 or Plastic LCP GF30?

Magnesium AZ31B-H24 is stiffer: Young's modulus 44.8 GPa against 11.5 GPa for Plastic LCP GF30, so the same part in Magnesium AZ31B-H24 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Magnesium AZ31B-H24 or Plastic LCP GF30?

For the same stiffness or strength: Magnesium AZ31B-H24 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	Magnesium AZ31B-H24	Plastic LCP GF30
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	3.55x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	1.8x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	43% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.74x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	40% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	26% 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, Magnesium AZ31B-H24 or Plastic LCP GF30?

Magnesium AZ31B-H24 stretches further before it breaks: 13% elongation at break against 1.5% for Plastic LCP GF30.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Magnesium AZ31B-H24 or Plastic LCP GF30?

Magnesium AZ31B-H24 conducts heat better: 76.9 W/m·K against 0.5 W/m·K for Plastic LCP GF30.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic LCP GF30 expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 26.8 µm/m·K for Magnesium AZ31B-H24.