Materials / Compare

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Steel AISI 1045

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Steel AISI 1045 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
Steel AISI 1045Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn
Flexural strength310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)not sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced12%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)210GPasourcetypical
Density3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)7,800kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced68.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight94.1MN·m/kg3.5x higher26.9MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)0.3sourcetypical
Shear modulus129GPa1.6x stiffer in shear80.8GPa
Bulk modulus205GPa175GPa
Speed of sound9,701m/s5,189m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient
Thermal expansion4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)12µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing23µm growth2.61x less60µm growth
Specific heat710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)62.1mm²/s5.36x faster11.6mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced6,269W/m
Values forKYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants

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 AISI 1045?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter: 3,400 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1045.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Steel AISI 1045?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 210 GPa for Steel AISI 1045, 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 AISI 1045?

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 NitrideSteel AISI 1045
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter3.5x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.83x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.64x 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 AISI 1045?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 42.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 12 µm/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.

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 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 NitrideSteel AISI 1045
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 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 GF30Steel AISI 1045
Strength against density

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