FabDigit

Aluminum ADC6 vs AC2A vs AC2B vs AC3A

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 aluminum grades.

ADC6 vs AC2A and 2 more: properties

ADC6AC2AAC2BAC3A

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

70 GPa10.2 Msi
74 GPa10.7 Msi
74 GPa10.7 Msi
71 GPa10.3 Msi

Shear Modulus

26.4 GPa3.8 Msi
27.5 GPa4 Msi
28 GPa4.1 Msi
26.5 GPa3.8 Msi

Bulk Modulus

69 GPa10 Msi
72 GPa10.4 Msi
71 GPa10.3 Msi
70 GPa10.2 Msi

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

265 MPa38.4 ksi
250 MPa36.3 ksi
180 MPa26.1 ksi
165 MPa23.9 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

145 MPa21 ksi
170 MPa24.7 ksi
110 MPa16 ksi
75 MPa10.9 ksi

Elongation at Break

8%
2%
2%
6%

Compressive Strength

150 MPa21.8 ksi
115 MPa16.7 ksi

Shear Strength

170 MPa24.7 ksi
165 MPa23.9 ksi
145 MPa21 ksi
115 MPa16.7 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

95 MPa13.8 ksi
75 MPa10.9 ksi
70 MPa10.2 ksi
55 MPa8 ksi

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

8 J5.9 ft·lbf
3 J2.2 ft·lbf
4 J3 ft·lbf
3 J2.2 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell

65 HB
85 HB
70 HB
50 HB

Hardness, Vickers

70 HV

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

18 MPa·√m16.4 ksi·√in
17 MPa·√m15.5 ksi·√in
15 MPa·√m13.7 ksi·√in

Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.33

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

2.63 g/cm³0.1 lb/in³
2.79 g/cm³0.1 lb/in³
2.77 g/cm³0.1 lb/in³
2.66 g/cm³0.1 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

590°C1,094 °F
516°C961 °F
516°C961 °F
574°C1,065 °F

Liquidus Temperature

630°C1,166 °F
604°C1,119 °F
604°C1,119 °F
582°C1,080 °F

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

125 W/m·K72.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F
110 W/m·K63.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F
109 W/m·K63 BTU/hr·ft·°F
130 W/m·K75.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

960 J/kg·K0.23 BTU/lb·°F
963 J/kg·K0.23 BTU/lb·°F
963 J/kg·K0.23 BTU/lb·°F
963 J/kg·K0.23 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

24.5 µm/m·K13.6 µin/in·°F
21.5 µm/m·K11.9 µin/in·°F
21.5 µm/m·K11.9 µin/in·°F
20.5 µm/m·K11.4 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

390 J/g168 BTU/lb
389 J/g167 BTU/lb
389 J/g167 BTU/lb
389 J/g167 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

150°C302 °F
175°C347 °F
150°C302 °F
150°C302 °F

Same in both: Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

25 % IACS
27 % IACS
27 % IACS
33 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

6.9×10⁻⁸ Ω·m2.72 µΩ·in
6.4×10⁻⁸ Ω·m2.52 µΩ·in
6.4×10⁻⁸ Ω·m2.52 µΩ·in
5.2×10⁻⁸ Ω·m2.05 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

-0.87 V
-0.75 V
-0.81 V
-0.83 V

Corrosion Resistance

65 / 100
42 / 100
42 / 100
58 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

65 / 100
72 / 100
65 / 100
40 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

200%
70%
130%
30%

Weldability

45 / 100
35 / 100
35 / 100
80 / 100

Formability (cold)

15 / 100
10 / 100
5 / 100
10 / 100

Castability

55 / 100
75 / 100
85 / 100
95 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

20 / 100
25 / 100
20 / 100
35 / 100

Polishability

60 / 100
40 / 100
40 / 100
45 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

155 MJ/kg66,638 BTU/lb
200 MJ/kg85,985 BTU/lb
200 MJ/kg85,985 BTU/lb
200 MJ/kg85,985 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

9.5 kg CO₂/kg
12 kg CO₂/kg
12 kg CO₂/kg
12 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

1,100 L/kg132 gal/lb
1,150 L/kg138 gal/lb
1,150 L/kg138 gal/lb
1,200 L/kg144 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

40%
80%
85%
70%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

101 kN·m/kg
90 kN·m/kg
65 kN·m/kg
62 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

26.6 MN·m/kg
26.5 MN·m/kg
26.7 MN·m/kg
26.7 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

150 kJ/m³
195 kJ/m³
82 kJ/m³
40 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

49.5 mm²/s
40.9 mm²/s
40.9 mm²/s
50.7 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

19
17
12
15

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

20501002005002.22.42.62.83Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleAC2AAC2BAC3AADC6

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityADC6AC2AAC2BAC3A
Default condition
Relative cost$$ Standard$$ Standard$$ Standard$$ Standard
Min. machined wall
Best machined surface

Both take the same 4 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Silver Plating.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in ADC6 and AC2A side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.