Materials / Compare

Aluminum A380 vs. Stainless Steel 17-4PH

Compare Aluminum A380 vs. Stainless Steel 17-4PH strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum A380Cast
Stainless Steel 17-4PHWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength160MPasourcetypical, 25 °C1,275MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Ultimate tensile strength320MPasourcetypical, 25 °C1,379MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Elongation at break3.5%sourcetypical9%sourcetypical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)71GPasourcetypical, 25 °C197GPasourceH 900
Density2,713kg/m³sourcetypical at 68 °F7,800kg/m³sourceH 900
Strength to weight59kN·m/kg163kN·m/kg2.77x higher
Stiffness to weight26.2MN·m/kg4% higher25.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's rationot sourced0.272sourceH 900 (column)
Shear modulusnot sourced77.4GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced144GPa
Speed of sound5,116m/s5,026m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity96.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 68 °F17.9W/m·Ksourceat 149 °C (300 °F), H 900
Thermal expansion21.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 68-572 °F (20-300 °C)10.8µm/m·Ksourcemean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing109µm growth54µm growth2.02x less
Specific heat963J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 68 °F460J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C, H 900
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)36.8mm²/s7.38x faster4.99mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced7,809W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourced316°Csourcestrength-retention limit (not oxidation)
Values forA380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page.Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021)

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 A380 stronger than Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 160 MPa for Aluminum A380 (7.97x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Aluminum A380 is lighter: 2,713 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum A380, so the same part in Stainless Steel 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum A380 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Stainless Steel 17-4PH is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam.

Part that must beAluminum A380Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter4% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.73x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.05x heavier
Strong rod or tie2.77x heavierlighter
Strong beam39% heavierlighter
Strong panel or platelighter2% 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 A380 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Aluminum A380 conducts heat better: 96.2 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 21.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum A380.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Aluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 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 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Aluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 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 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Strength against density

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