Materials / Compare
Glass vs. Nickel Inconel 718
Compare Glass vs. Nickel Inconel 718 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | 1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability | 1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar |
| Flexural strength | 41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile) | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged |
| Density | 2,500kg/m³sourcetypical | 8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged |
| Strength to weight | 16.4kN·m/kg | 147kN·m/kg8.95x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 28.8MN·m/kg18% higher | 24.3MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.22sourcetypical | 0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged |
| Shear modulus | 29.5GPa | 77.3GPa2.62x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 42.9GPa | 162GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,367m/s | 4,932m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F | 11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a) |
| Thermal expansion | 8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F | 13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41.5µm growth1.59x less | 66µm growth |
| Specific heat | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F | 435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.426mm²/s | 3.19mm²/s7.48x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 50.1W/m | 3,680W/m73.4x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | 511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit | 704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer |
| Values for | Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025) | INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values |
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 Glass stronger than Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against tensile strength 41 MPa for Glass (29.4x).
Which is lighter, Glass or Nickel Inconel 718?
Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.
Which is stiffer, Glass or Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 72 GPa for Glass, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Glass or Nickel Inconel 718?
For the same stiffness or strength: Glass is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Glass | Nickel Inconel 718 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 18% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.97x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.34x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 8.95x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.9x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.65x 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, Glass or Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.937 W/m·K for Glass.
Which expands less with temperature?
Glass expands less: 8.3 µm/m·K against 13.2 µm/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.