Materials / Compare

Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Stainless Steel 316

Compare Aluminum 2024-T351 vs. Stainless Steel 316 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 2024-T351Wrought
Stainless Steel 316Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength324MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen265MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet
Ultimate tensile strength469MPasourcetypical583MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet
Elongation at break19%sourcetypical, in 4D61%sourcetypical (representative), annealed, in 2 in. (51 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)73.1GPasourcetypical200GPasourcetypical, in tension
Density2,770kg/m³sourcenominal8,027kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight117kN·m/kg3.54x higher33kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.4MN·m/kg6% higher24.9MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant), all tempers0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels)
Shear modulus27.5GPa76.9GPa2.8x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus71.7GPa167GPa
Speed of sound5,137m/s4,992m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity120W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C14.6W/m·Ksource20–100 °C
Thermal expansion22.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C16.5µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing115µm growth82.5µm growth39% less
Specific heat875J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C450J/kg·Ksourceat 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)49.5mm²/s12.2x faster4.04mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance15,561W/m19x more resistant821W/m
Melting point502–638°Csourcemelting range1,390–1,440°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperaturenot sourced871–899°Csourceoxidation (scaling) limit in air
Values for2024-T4/T351, Kaiser Aluminum sheet, coil & plate typical datasheet; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JATI 316 (UNS S31600), annealed 1.0 mm sheet, ATI technical data sheet (2012); 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 Steel 316?

Aluminum 2024-T351 is stronger: its yield strength is 324 MPa against 265 MPa for Stainless Steel 316 (22%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Stainless Steel 316?

Aluminum 2024-T351 is lighter: 2,770 kg/m³ against 8,027 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 316.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Stainless Steel 316?

Stainless Steel 316 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 73.1 GPa for Aluminum 2024-T351, so the same part in Stainless Steel 316 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 2024-T351 or Stainless Steel 316?

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 beAluminum 2024-T351Stainless Steel 316
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter6% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.75x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.07x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter3.54x heavier
Strong beamlighter3.31x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter3.2x 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 Stainless Steel 316?

Aluminum 2024-T351 conducts heat better: 120 W/m·K against 14.6 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.

Which expands less with temperature?

Stainless Steel 316 expands less: 16.5 µm/m·K against 22.9 µm/m·K for Aluminum 2024-T351.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 2024-T351Stainless Steel 316
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum 2024-T351Stainless Steel 316
Strength against density

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