Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser
Sources2 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Cleveland-Cliffs
Aluminum 3003-O
3003-O (annealed) aluminium-manganese alloy, the heat-exchanger tube and brazing alloy, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 3003 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from the NIST cryogenic 3003-F fit at 293 K.
Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021)
1
Alloy 3003 Tube & Pipe Technical Data, Rev. 05/06Kaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 3003-O · Yield strength: typical, O, 0.0625 in specimenAluminum 3003-O · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, OAluminum 3003-O · Elongation at break: typical, O, in 4DAluminum 3003-O · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 3003-O · Density: nominal, 20 °CAluminum 3003-O · Thermal conductivity: typical, O, 20 °CAluminum 3003-O · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 3003-O · Melting point: melting range
2
17-4 PH Stainless Steel Product Data Bulletin (2021)Cleveland-CliffsStainless Steel 17-4PH · Yield strength: typical, transverse, sheet/stripStainless Steel 17-4PH · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, transverse, sheet/stripStainless Steel 17-4PH · Elongation at break: typical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Young's modulus (stiffness): H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Density: H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Poisson's ratio: H 900 (column)Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Thermal conductivity: at 149 °C (300 °F), H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Thermal expansion: mean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Specific heat: mean, 0–100 °C, H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Max service temperature: strength-retention limit (not oxidation)
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Aluminum 3003-O stronger than Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (31.9x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Aluminum 3003-O is lighter: 2,730 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 3003-O, so the same part in Stainless Steel 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 3003-O or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 3003-O is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Stainless Steel 17-4PH is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
about equal
about equal
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.69x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2.01x heavier
Strong rod or tie
11.2x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
3.52x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.98x heavier
lighter
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 is more ductile, Aluminum 3003-O or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 9% for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 17.9 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 23.2 µm/m·K for Aluminum 3003-O.