Materials / Compare
Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Stainless 304
Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Stainless 304 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 324MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | 241MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 469MPasourcetypical | 586MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Elongation at break | 19%sourcetypical, in 4D | 55%sourcetypical, annealed, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 73.1GPasourcetypical | 193GPasourcetypical, in tension |
| Density | 2,770kg/m³sourcenominal | 8,030kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 117kN·m/kg3.9x higher | 30kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.4MN·m/kg10% higher | 24MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) |
| Shear modulus | 27.5GPa | 74.2GPa2.7x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 71.7GPa | 161GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,137m/s | 4,903m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 16.2W/m·Ksourceat 100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 16.9µm/m·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 115µm growth | 84.5µm growth36% less |
| Specific heat | 875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 500J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 49.5mm²/s12.3x faster | 4.03mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 15,561W/m18.6x more resistant | 838W/m |
| Melting point | 502–638°Csourcemelting range | 1,399–1,454°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 899°Csourcecontinuous, oxidation (scaling) limit in air |
| Values for | 2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | Type 304, annealed flat-rolled (Cleveland-Cliffs 304/304L Product Data Bulletin, May 2021); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Aluminum 2024-T351 stronger than Stainless 304?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 241 MPa for Stainless 304 (34%).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Stainless 304?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is lighter: 2,770 kg/m³ against 8,030 kg/m³ for Stainless 304.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 is stiffer: Young's modulus 193 GPa against 73.1 GPa for Aluminum 2024-T351, so the same part in Stainless 304 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Stainless 304?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 2024-T351 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 | Aluminum 2024-T351 | Stainless 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 10% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.78x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.1x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 3.9x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 3.53x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3.36x 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 conducts heat better, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Stainless 304?
Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for Stainless 304.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless 304 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 22.9 µm/m·K for Aluminum 2024-T351.