Divine Metal & Alloy It is a very malleable substance that can be used in a variety of ways. This material is the best whether flat panels or shapes are required. Different pieces can be easily created using the extrusion method in quick, low-cost procedures. Aluminum conducts at a lesser rate than copper. We frequently suggest increasing the surface area to allow for heat dissipation. This results in improved heat exchange for more effective thermal dissipation. For the same material cross-section, aluminum does indeed have a lower tensile strength (by 37%) than copper. The bigger cross-section of aluminum approaches the tensile strength of copper for a certain ampacity, however, grade 6101 aluminum requires a cross-section that is approximately 66 percent greater than what would be needed for a copper conductor to carry the same amount of current.