Materials / Compare
Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Steel A992
Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Steel A992 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) | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4) | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| 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 | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20) | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 59.4kN·m/kg21% higher | 49kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 81.5MN·m/kg3.2x higher | 25.5MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848) | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | 125GPa1.63x stiffer in shear | 76.9GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 174GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 9,025m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408) | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372) | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41µm growth46% less | 60µm growth |
| Specific heat | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269) | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 7.55mm²/s | 13mm²/s1.72x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 1,736W/m | 5,390W/m3.11x more resistant |
| 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. | ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
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 Steel A992?
Steel A992 is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against tensile strength 221 MPa for Ceramic Alumina 96% (1.74x).
Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Steel A992?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is lighter: 3,720 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel A992.
Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Steel A992?
Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 200 GPa for Steel A992, 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 Steel A992?
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% | Steel A992 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 3.2x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.6x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.42x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 21% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 46% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 1.6x 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 Steel A992?
Steel A992 conducts heat better: 48 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 12 µm/m·K for Steel A992.