Materials / Compare
Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Steel AISI 1045
Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Steel AISI 1045 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 | 531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 469MPasourcetypical | 627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Elongation at break | 19%sourcetypical, in 4D | 12%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 73.1GPasourcetypical | 210GPasourcetypical2.87x stiffer |
| Density | 2,770kg/m³sourcenominal | 7,800kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 117kN·m/kg1.72x higher | 68.1kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.4MN·m/kg | 26.9MN·m/kg2% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers | 0.3sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 27.5GPa | 80.8GPa2.94x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 71.7GPa | 175GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,137m/s | 5,189m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient |
| Thermal expansion | 22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 12µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 115µm growth | 60µm growth1.91x less |
| Specific heat | 875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 49.5mm²/s4.27x faster | 11.6mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 15,561W/m2.48x more resistant | 6,269W/m |
| Melting point | 502–638°Csourcemelting range | not sourced |
| Values for | 2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants |
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 Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 324 MPa for Aluminum 2024-T351 (1.64x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Steel AISI 1045?
Aluminum 2024-T351 is lighter: 2,770 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1045.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 73.1 GPa for Aluminum 2024-T351, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Steel AISI 1045?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 2024-T351 is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel AISI 1045 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension).
| Part that must be | Aluminum 2024-T351 | Steel AISI 1045 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.66x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.98x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.72x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.03x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.2x 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 Steel AISI 1045?
Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 42.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 22.9 µm/m·K for Aluminum 2024-T351.