Materials / Compare

Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Iron

Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Iron strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Alumina 96%Sintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
IronWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal
Ultimate tensile strength221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4)290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal
Compressive strength2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773)not sourced
Flexural strength358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417)not sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0
Young's modulus (stiffness)303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal
Density3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20)7,860kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight59.4kN·m/kg2.51x higher23.7kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight81.5MN·m/kg3.09x higher26.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron)
Shear modulus125GPa1.55x stiffer in shear80.7GPa
Bulk modulus174GPa158GPa
Speed of sound9,025m/s5,132m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408)73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C
Thermal expansion8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372)13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing41µm growth1.67x less68.5µm growth
Specific heat880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269)450J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)7.55mm²/s20.7mm²/s2.74x faster
Thermal shock resistance1,736W/m3,447W/m1.99x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced1,532°Csourcetypical
Values forCoorsTek AD-96, nominal 96% Al2O3 sintered alumina, typical values; CoorsTek "Ceramic Seal Material Properties" (© 2018, 01899 F). AD-96 is the general 96% grade, not the ADS-96R substrate grade.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 Ceramic Alumina 96% stronger than Iron?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stronger: its tensile strength is 221 MPa against yield strength 186 MPa for Iron (19%).

Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Iron?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is lighter: 3,720 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Iron?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 207 GPa for Iron, so the same part in Ceramic Alumina 96% deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Iron?

For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Alumina 96% 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 beCeramic Alumina 96%Iron
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter3.09x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.56x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.4x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter2.51x heavier
Strong beamlighter2.37x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.3x 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, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Iron?

Iron conducts heat better: 73.2 W/m·K against 24.7 W/m·K for Ceramic Alumina 96%.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 13.7 µm/m·K for Iron.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 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 Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Alumina 96%Iron
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 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-4SiliconAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Alumina 96%Iron
Strength against density

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