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Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Iron

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Iron strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
IronWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal
Flexural strength310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)not sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0
Young's modulus (stiffness)320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal
Density3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)7,860kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced23.7kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight94.1MN·m/kg3.57x higher26.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron)
Shear modulus129GPa1.6x stiffer in shear80.7GPa
Bulk modulus205GPa158GPa
Speed of sound9,701m/s5,132m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C
Thermal expansion4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing23µm growth2.98x less68.5µm growth
Specific heat710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)450J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)62.1mm²/s3x faster20.7mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced3,447W/m
Melting pointnot sourced1,532°Csourcetypical
Values forKYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03Cleveland-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

Which is lighter, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Iron?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter: 3,400 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Iron?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 207 GPa for Iron, so the same part in Ceramic Aluminum Nitride deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Iron?

For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beCeramic Aluminum NitrideIron
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter3.57x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.87x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.67x 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 Aluminum Nitride or Iron?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 73.2 W/m·K for Iron.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 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 Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Aluminum NitrideIron
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-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Iron
Strength against density

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