Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Steel

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Steel 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	385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC
Ultimate tensile strength	not sourced	505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey)
Flexural strength	310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)	not sourced
Elongation at break	not sourced	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)	200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16)
Density	3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)	7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data)
Strength to weight	not sourced	49kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	94.1MN·m/kg3.69x higher	25.5MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)	0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary)
Shear modulus	129GPa1.68x stiffer in shear	76.9GPa
Bulk modulus	205GPa	167GPa
Speed of sound	9,701m/s	5,048m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)	48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C
Thermal expansion	4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)	12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	23µm growth2.61x less	60µm growth
Specific heat	710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)	460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	62.1mm²/s4.78x faster	13mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	5,390W/m
Values for	KYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03	Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural 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

Which is lighter, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Steel?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter: 3,400 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Steel?

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

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	Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	3.69x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2.92x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2.7x 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 Steel?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 48 W/m·K for Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 12 µm/m·K for Steel.

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density