Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Nickel Inconel 718

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Nickel Inconel 718 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	not sourced	1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset
Ultimate tensile strength	not sourced	1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar
Flexural strength	310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)	not sourced
Elongation at break	not sourced	20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar
Young's modulus (stiffness)	320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)	200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged
Density	3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)	8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged
Strength to weight	not sourced	147kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	94.1MN·m/kg3.87x higher	24.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)	0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged
Shear modulus	129GPa1.67x stiffer in shear	77.3GPa
Bulk modulus	205GPa	162GPa
Speed of sound	9,701m/s	4,932m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)	11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)
Thermal expansion	4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)	13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	23µm growth2.87x less	66µm growth
Specific heat	710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)	435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	62.1mm²/s19.5x faster	3.19mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	3,680W/m
Melting point	not sourced	1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature	not sourced	704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer
Values for	KYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03	INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values

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 Nickel Inconel 718?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter: 3,400 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Nickel Inconel 718?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 200 GPa for Nickel Inconel 718, 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 Nickel Inconel 718?

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 be	Ceramic Aluminum Nitride	Nickel Inconel 718
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	3.87x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	3.06x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2.83x 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 Nickel Inconel 718?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 11.4 W/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 13.2 µm/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density