Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Copper Development Association, Cleveland-Cliffs, Wieland, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Copper C10100
C10100 oxygen-free electronic (OFE) copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.04 in. flat products, copper.org typical values
Iron
Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal.
1
C10100 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C10100 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C10100 · Density: nominalCopper C10100 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C10100 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Melting point: melting point (liquidus = solidus, pure copper)
2
ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (2022)Cleveland-Cliffsarchived copyIron · Yield strength: typical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Elongation at break: typical, gauge 4D0Iron · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, after SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Density: typicalIron · Thermal conductivity: typical at 20 °CIron · Thermal expansion: mean, 20-399 °CIron · Specific heat: typicalIron · Melting point: typical
3
Wieland-K09 (Cu-OFE, C10100) Data SheetWielandCopper C10100 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K09 = Cu-OFE = C10100, rolled products)
4
Elastic Properties of Metals and Alloys, I. Iron, Nickel, and Iron-Nickel Alloys, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 2 (1973)National Institute of Standards and Technologyarchived copyIron · Poisson's ratio: NIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron)
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Copper C10100 stronger than Iron?
Iron is stronger: its yield strength is 186 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C10100 (2.7x).
Which is lighter, Copper C10100 or Iron?
Iron is lighter: 7,860 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.
Which is stiffer, Copper C10100 or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C10100, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C10100 or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: Iron is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Copper C10100
Iron
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
2.01x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
1.51x heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
38% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
3.07x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
2.2x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.87x heavier
lighter
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 is more ductile, Copper C10100 or Iron?
Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 38% for Iron.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C10100 or Iron?
Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 73.2 W/m·K for Iron.
Which expands less with temperature?
Iron expands less: 13.7 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C10100.