6061 Aluminum vs. Grade A Lava

6061 aluminum and grade A lava belong to fundamentally different material chemistries. 6061 aluminum is a metal, while grade A lava is a ceramic material. Therefore, their performance will be even more dissimilar than would be suggested by the difference in properties. There are 9 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (28, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is 6061 aluminum and the bottom bar is grade A lava.

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Material Properties

Density, g/cm³		2.7
Density, g/cm³		2.3 to 2.5

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		170
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		650 to 1130

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		900
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		840

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		13 to 42
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		0.77 to 2.5

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		21 to 45
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		3.2 to 7.3

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		130 to 410
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		6.9 to 21

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		170
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		2.0

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		68
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		1.0

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		24
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		2.5 to 3.3

6061 Aluminum vs. Grade A Lava

Material Properties

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