Materials / Compare
Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Stainless Steel 316
Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Stainless Steel 316 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | 265MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4) | 583MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet |
| Compressive strength | 2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773) | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417) | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 61%sourcetypical (representative), annealed, in 2 in. (51 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 200GPasourcetypical, in tension |
| Density | 3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20) | 8,027kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 59.4kN·m/kg1.8x higher | 33kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 81.5MN·m/kg3.27x higher | 24.9MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) |
| Shear modulus | 125GPa1.63x stiffer in shear | 76.9GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 174GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 9,025m/s | 4,992m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408) | 14.6W/m·Ksource20–100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372) | 16.5µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41µm growth2.01x less | 82.5µm growth |
| Specific heat | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269) | 450J/kg·Ksourceat 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 7.55mm²/s1.87x faster | 4.04mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 1,736W/m2.11x more resistant | 821W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,390–1,440°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 871–899°Csourceoxidation (scaling) limit in air |
| Values for | CoorsTek 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. | ATI 316 (UNS S31600), annealed 1.0 mm sheet, ATI technical data sheet (2012); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual |
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 Stainless Steel 316?
Stainless Steel 316 is stronger: its yield strength is 265 MPa against tensile strength 221 MPa for Ceramic Alumina 96% (20%).
Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Stainless Steel 316?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is lighter: 3,720 kg/m³ against 8,027 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 316.
Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Stainless Steel 316?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 200 GPa for Stainless Steel 316, 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 Stainless Steel 316?
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 be | Ceramic Alumina 96% | Stainless Steel 316 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 3.27x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.66x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.48x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.8x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.91x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.97x 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 Stainless Steel 316?
Ceramic Alumina 96% conducts heat better: 24.7 W/m·K against 14.6 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.
Which expands less with temperature?
Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 16.5 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.
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