Materials / Compare

Copper C10100 vs. Steel AISI 1018

Compare Copper C10100 vs. Steel AISI 1018 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Copper C10100Wrought
Steel AISI 1018Wrought
MechanicalCopper C10100Steel AISI 1018
Yield strength69MPa1producer-stated372MPa25.39x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength221MPa1producer-stated441MPa22x stronger
Elongation at break45%13x more ductilein 2 in15%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)117GPa1base material200GPa3
Density8,941kg/m³1base material7,861kg/m³3
Strength to weight7.72kN·m/kg47.3kN·m/kg6.13x higher
Stiffness to weight13.1MN·m/kg25.4MN·m/kg1.94x higher
Poisson's ratio0.344base material0.323
Shear modulus43.7GPa75.7GPa1.73x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus122GPa185GPa1.52x higher
Speed of sound3,621m/s5,043m/s39% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumStainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel 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 StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Copper C10100Steel AISI 1018
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumStainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel 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 StandardSLA 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 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Copper C10100Steel AISI 1018
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalCopper C10100Steel AISI 1018
Thermal conductivity391W/m·K1base material51.9W/m·K3
Thermal expansion16.9µm/m·K1base material12µm/m·K541% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing84.5µm growth60µm growth41% less
Specific heat385J/kg·K1base material486J/kg·K3
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)114mm²/s8.36x faster13.6mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance8,992W/m1.64x more resistant5,473W/m
Melting pointmelting point1,083°C1not sourced
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumStainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel 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 HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Copper C10100Steel AISI 1018
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumStainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel 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 HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Copper C10100Steel AISI 1018
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources5 documents: Copper Development Association, Niagara LaSalle, U.S. Department of Defense, Wieland, Ovako
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
Steel AISI 1018
AISI 1018 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle, cold-finished bar producer)
  1. 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. 2
    1018 PropertiesNiagara LaSallearchived copySteel AISI 1018 · Yield strength: producer-stated, cold drawnSteel AISI 1018 · Ultimate tensile strength: producer-stated, cold drawnSteel AISI 1018 · Elongation at break: in 2 in (50.8 mm)
  3. 3
    MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseSteel AISI 1018 · Young's modulus (stiffness): base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Density: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Poisson's ratio: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Thermal conductivity: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Specific heat: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)
  4. 4
    Wieland-K09 (Cu-OFE, C10100) Data SheetWielandCopper C10100 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K09 = Cu-OFE = C10100, rolled products)
  5. 5
    S275JR Steel GradeOvakoSteel AISI 1018 · Thermal expansion: base material: unalloyed carbon steel, Ovako family table (S275JR, 'none alloyed structural steels', C <= 0.21%); mean 20-300 °C

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 Steel AISI 1018?

Steel AISI 1018 is stronger: its yield strength is 372 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C10100 (5.39x).

Which is lighter, Copper C10100 or Steel AISI 1018?

Steel AISI 1018 is lighter: 7,861 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.

Which is stiffer, Copper C10100 or Steel AISI 1018?

Steel AISI 1018 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C10100, so the same part in Steel AISI 1018 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C10100 or Steel AISI 1018?

For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 1018 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 beCopper C10100Steel AISI 1018
Stiff rod or tie (tension)1.94x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)49% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate36% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie6.13x heavierlighter
Strong beam3.5x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.64x heavierlighter

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 Steel AISI 1018?

Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 15% for Steel AISI 1018.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C10100 or Steel AISI 1018?

Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 51.9 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1018.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel AISI 1018 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C10100.

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