Materials / Compare
Brass C260 vs. Iron
Compare Brass C260 vs. Iron 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 | 345MPasourcenominal, strip/flat, 0.5% extension (not 0.2% offset) | 186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 427MPasourcenominal, strip/flat | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Elongation at break | 23%sourcenominal, in 2.0 in., strip/flat | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 110GPasourcetypical, temper-independent | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Density | 8,525kg/m³sourcenominal | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 40.5kN·m/kg1.71x higher | 23.7kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 12.9MN·m/kg | 26.3MN·m/kg2.04x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.34sourcereference value at room temperature (Wieland-M30 = CuZn30 = C26000, rolled products) | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) |
| Shear modulus | 41.2GPa | 80.7GPa1.96x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 115GPa | 158GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,597m/s | 5,132m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 121W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth | 68.5µm growth46% less |
| Specific heat | 377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 37.7mm²/s1.82x faster | 20.7mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 12,510W/m3.63x more resistant | 3,447W/m |
| Melting point | 916–954°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | 1,532°Csourcetypical |
| Values for | C26000 cartridge brass, H02 half hard flat/strip: CDA Electronic Connector Design Guide (mechanical) + CDA alloy page (physical) | Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal. |
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 Brass C260 stronger than Iron?
Brass C260 is stronger: its yield strength is 345 MPa against 186 MPa for Iron (1.85x).
Which is lighter, Brass C260 or Iron?
Iron is lighter: 7,860 kg/m³ against 8,525 kg/m³ for Brass C260.
Which is stiffer, Brass C260 or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 110 GPa for Brass C260, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C260 or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C260 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Iron is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Brass C260 | Iron |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2.04x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 49% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 34% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.71x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 39% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 26% 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, Brass C260 or Iron?
Brass C260 conducts heat better: 121 W/m·K against 73.2 W/m·K for Iron.
Which expands less with temperature?
Iron expands less: 13.7 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for Brass C260.