Materials / Compare

Copper C10100 vs. Steel AISI 4340

Compare Copper C10100 vs. Steel AISI 4340 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Copper C10100Wrought
Steel AISI 4340Wrought
MechanicalCopper C10100Steel AISI 4340
Yield strength69MPa11,035MPa215x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength221MPa11,140MPa25.16x stronger
Elongation at break45%12.5x more ductile18%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)117GPa1200GPa3
Density8,941kg/m³17,840kg/m³214% lighter
Strength to weight7.72kN·m/kg132kN·m/kg17.1x higher
Stiffness to weight13.1MN·m/kg25.5MN·m/kg1.95x higher
Poisson's ratio0.3440.323
Shear modulus43.7GPa75.7GPa1.73x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus122GPa185GPa1.52x higher
Speed of sound3,621m/s5,049m/s39% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C12200GlassSteel 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 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 4340
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C12200GlassSteel 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 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 4340
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalCopper C10100Steel AISI 4340
Thermal conductivity391W/m·K110.4x more heat through a fin37.5W/m·K2
Thermal expansion16.9µm/m·K1mean11.3µm/m·K250% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing84.5µm growth56.5µm growth50% less
Specific heat385J/kg·K1448J/kg·K216% higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)114mm²/s10.6x faster10.7mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance8,992W/m11,678W/m30% more resistant
Melting pointmelting point1,083°C1not sourced
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C12200GlassSteel 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 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 4340
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 NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C12200GlassSteel 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 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 4340
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Copper Development Association, Carpenter Technology, U.S. Department of Defense, Wieland
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 4340
Carpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level
  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
    Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC Data SheetCarpenter Technologyarchived copySteel AISI 4340 · Yield strength: typical, transverseSteel AISI 4340 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, transverseSteel AISI 4340 · Elongation at break: typical, transverseSteel AISI 4340 · Density: typicalSteel AISI 4340 · Thermal conductivity: typicalSteel AISI 4340 · Thermal expansion: mean, -18 to 93 °CSteel AISI 4340 · Specific heat: typical
  3. 3
    MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseSteel AISI 4340 · Young's modulus (stiffness): MIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)Steel AISI 4340 · Poisson's ratio: MIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
  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)

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 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,035 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C10100 (15x).

Which is lighter, Copper C10100 or Steel AISI 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 is lighter: 7,840 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.

Which is stiffer, Copper C10100 or Steel AISI 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C10100, so the same part in Steel AISI 4340 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C10100 or Steel AISI 4340?

For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 4340 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 4340
Stiff rod or tie (tension)1.95x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)49% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate36% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie17.1x heavierlighter
Strong beam6.94x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate4.42x 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 4340?

Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 18% for Steel AISI 4340.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C10100 or Steel AISI 4340?

Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 37.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel AISI 4340 expands less: 11.3 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C10100.

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