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Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Steel AISI 4340

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Steel AISI 4340 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
Steel AISI 4340Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced1,035MPasourcetypical, transverse
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced1,140MPasourcetypical, transverse
Flexural strength310MPasource3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)not sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced18%sourcetypical, transverse
Young's modulus (stiffness)320GPasourcetypical (JIS R 1602)200GPasourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
Density3,400kg/m³sourcetypical (JIS R 1634)7,840kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced132kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight94.1MN·m/kg3.69x higher25.5MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.24sourcetypical (JIS R 1602)0.32sourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
Shear modulus129GPa1.7x stiffer in shear75.7GPa
Bulk modulus205GPa185GPa
Speed of sound9,701m/s5,049m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity150W/m·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)37.5W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion4.6µm/m·Ksourcemean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)11.3µm/m·Ksourcemean, -18 to 93 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing23µm growth2.46x less56.5µm growth
Specific heat710J/kg·Ksourcetypical (JIS R 1611)448J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)62.1mm²/s5.82x faster10.7mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced11,678W/m
Values forKYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03Carpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level

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 4340?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter: 3,400 kg/m³ against 7,840 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 4340.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Steel AISI 4340?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 200 GPa for Steel AISI 4340, 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 4340?

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 4340
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter3.69x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.92x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.7x 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 AISI 4340?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 37.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 11.3 µm/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.

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 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 4340
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 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 4340
Strength against density

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