Materials / Compare
Brass C360 vs. Steel AISI 1045
Compare Brass C360 vs. Steel AISI 1045 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 | 531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 400MPasourcetypical | 627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Elongation at break | 25%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod | 12%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 96.5GPasourcetypical, temper-independent | 210GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 8,498kg/m³sourcenominal | 7,800kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 36.5kN·m/kg | 68.1kN·m/kg1.87x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 11.4MN·m/kg | 26.9MN·m/kg2.37x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.34sourcebase material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature | 0.3sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 36GPa | 80.8GPa2.24x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 101GPa | 175GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,370m/s | 5,189m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 116W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient |
| Thermal expansion | 20.5µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C | 12µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C1.71x less |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 103µm growth | 60µm growth1.71x less |
| Specific heat | 377J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 36.2mm²/s3.12x faster | 11.6mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 11,997W/m1.91x more resistant | 6,269W/m |
| Melting point | 888–899°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | not sourced |
| Values for | C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values | AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants |
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 Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 310 MPa for Brass C360 (1.71x).
Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.
Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 96.5 GPa for Brass C360, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Steel AISI 1045?
For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 1045 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 be | Brass C360 | Steel AISI 1045 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2.37x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 1.61x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 41% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 1.87x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.56x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 43% 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 conducts heat better, Brass C360 or Steel AISI 1045?
Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 42.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 20.5 µm/m·K for Brass C360.