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Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Magnesium AZ91D

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Magnesium AZ91D strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
Magnesium AZ91DCast
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced150MPasourcetypical, 0.2% tensile yield, ambient temperature
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced230MPasourcetypical, ambient temperature
Flexural strength310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)not sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced3%sourcetypical, ambient temperature
Young's modulus (stiffness)320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)45GPasourcetypical
Density3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)1,810kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced82.9kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight94.1MN·m/kg3.79x higher24.9MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)0.35sourcebase material: AZ91C casting (MIL-HDBK-5J handbook physical constant)
Shear modulus129GPa7.74x stiffer in shear16.7GPa
Bulk modulus205GPa50GPa
Speed of sound9,701m/s4,986m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)72W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)25µm/m·Ksourcetypical, temperature range not stated
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing23µm growth5.43x less125µm growth
Specific heat710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)1,050J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)62.1mm²/s1.64x faster37.9mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced6,240W/m
Melting pointnot sourced470–595°Csourcemelting range
Values forKYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03ELEKTRON AZ91D magnesium die-casting alloy, as cast; Magnesium Elektron datasheet 475 (7/01), typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J for AZ91C castings.

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 Magnesium AZ91D?

Magnesium AZ91D is lighter: 1,810 kg/m³ against 3,400 kg/m³ for Ceramic Aluminum Nitride.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Magnesium AZ91D?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 45 GPa for Magnesium AZ91D, 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 Magnesium AZ91D?

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 NitrideMagnesium AZ91D
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter3.79x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter42% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2% 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 Magnesium AZ91D?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 72 W/m·K for Magnesium AZ91D.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 25 µm/m·K for Magnesium AZ91D.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel 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 ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Aluminum NitrideMagnesium AZ91D
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel 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 ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Magnesium AZ91D
Strength against density

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