Materials / Compare
Copper C110 vs. Stainless 304
Compare Copper C110 vs. Stainless 304 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 69MPasourcetypical, 0.5% extension under load | 241MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 221MPasourcetypical | 586MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Elongation at break | 55%sourcetypical, 1 in. rod | 55%sourcetypical, annealed, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 117GPasourcetypical | 193GPasourcetypical, in tension |
| Density | 8,913kg/m³sourcenominal | 8,030kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 7.74kN·m/kg | 30kN·m/kg3.88x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 13.1MN·m/kg | 24MN·m/kg1.83x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.34sourcereference value at room temperature (Wieland-K32 = Cu-ETP = C11000, rolled products) | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) |
| Shear modulus | 43.7GPa | 74.2GPa1.7x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 122GPa | 161GPa |
| Speed of sound | 3,626m/s | 4,903m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 391W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 16.2W/m·Ksourceat 100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 16.9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 16.9µm/m·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 84.5µm growth | 84.5µm growth |
| Specific heat | 385J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 500J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 114mm²/s28.2x faster | 4.03mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 8,992W/m10.7x more resistant | 838W/m |
| Melting point | 1,065–1,083°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | 1,399–1,454°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 899°Csourcecontinuous, oxidation (scaling) limit in air |
| Values for | C11000 ETP copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 1 in. rod, copper.org typical values | Type 304, annealed flat-rolled (Cleveland-Cliffs 304/304L Product Data Bulletin, May 2021); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual |
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
Is Copper C110 stronger than Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 is stronger: its yield strength is 241 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C110 (3.49x).
Which is lighter, Copper C110 or Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 is lighter: 8,030 kg/m³ against 8,913 kg/m³ for Copper C110.
Which is stiffer, Copper C110 or Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 is stiffer: Young's modulus 193 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C110, so the same part in Stainless 304 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C110 or Stainless 304?
For the same stiffness or strength: Stainless 304 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 C110 | Stainless 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 1.83x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 42% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 31% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 3.88x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.56x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 2.07x 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 conducts heat better, Copper C110 or Stainless 304?
Copper C110 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for Stainless 304.
Which expands less with temperature?
Copper C110 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Stainless 304.