Materials / Compare
Brass C360 vs. Iron
Compare Brass C360 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 | 310MPasourcetypical, 0.5% extension under load | 186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 400MPasourcetypical | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Elongation at break | 25%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 96.5GPasourcetypical, temper-independent | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Density | 8,498kg/m³sourcenominal | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 36.5kN·m/kg1.54x higher | 23.7kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 11.4MN·m/kg | 26.3MN·m/kg2.32x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.34sourcebase material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) |
| Shear modulus | 36GPa | 80.7GPa2.24x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 101GPa | 158GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,370m/s | 5,132m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 116W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 20.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 103µm growth | 68.5µm growth50% less |
| Specific heat | 377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 36.2mm²/s1.75x faster | 20.7mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 11,997W/m3.48x more resistant | 3,447W/m |
| Melting point | 888–899°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | 1,532°Csourcetypical |
| Values for | C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values | 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 C360 stronger than Iron?
Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 186 MPa for Iron (1.67x).
Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Iron?
Iron is lighter: 7,860 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.
Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 96.5 GPa for Brass C360, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C360 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 C360 | Iron |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2.32x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 1.58x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 39% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.54x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 30% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 19% 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 C360 or Iron?
Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 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 20.5 µm/m·K for Brass C360.