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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Sources3 documents: Copper Development Association, Cleveland-Cliffs, Wieland
Copper C12200
C12200 phosphorus-deoxidized copper (DHP, the air-conditioning and refrigeration tube copper), tube annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.065 in. wall, copper.org typical values
Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021)
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C12200 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C12200 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C12200 · Density: nominalCopper C12200 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C12200 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Melting point: liquidus
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17-4 PH Stainless Steel Product Data Bulletin (2021)Cleveland-CliffsStainless Steel 17-4PH · Yield strength: typical, transverse, sheet/stripStainless Steel 17-4PH · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, transverse, sheet/stripStainless Steel 17-4PH · Elongation at break: typical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Young's modulus (stiffness): H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Density: H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Poisson's ratio: H 900 (column)Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Thermal conductivity: at 149 °C (300 °F), H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Thermal expansion: mean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Specific heat: mean, 0–100 °C, H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Max service temperature: strength-retention limit (not oxidation)
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Wieland-K19 (Cu-DHP, C12200) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C12200 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K19 = Cu-DHP = C12200, 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 C12200 stronger than Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C12200 (18.5x).
Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.
Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C12200, so the same part in Stainless Steel 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
For the same stiffness or strength: Stainless Steel 17-4PH 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 C12200
Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
1.93x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
49% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
36% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
21.2x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
8.01x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
4.93x 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 C12200 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 9% for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?
Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 17.9 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless Steel 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C12200.