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, Niagara LaSalle, Ovako, 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
Steel AISI 1045
AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants
1
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
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 Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C12200 (7.7x).
Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.
Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C12200, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Steel AISI 1045?
For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 1045 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
Steel AISI 1045
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
2.05x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
1.53x heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
39% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
8.82x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
4.47x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
3.18x 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 Steel AISI 1045?
Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 12% for Steel AISI 1045.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Steel AISI 1045?
Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 42.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C12200.