Materials / Compare
Glass vs. Magnesium AZ31B-H24
Compare Glass vs. Magnesium AZ31B-H24 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) | 220MPasourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm, 0.2 % proof stress |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability | 290MPasourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm |
| Flexural strength | 41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile) | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 13%sourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm, gauge 5.65√A |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcetypical | 44.8GPasourcetypical (handbook physical constant) |
| Density | 2,500kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,769kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 16.4kN·m/kg | 124kN·m/kg7.58x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 28.8MN·m/kg14% higher | 25.3MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.22sourcetypical | 0.35sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) |
| Shear modulus | 29.5GPa1.78x stiffer in shear | 16.6GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 42.9GPa | 49.8GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,367m/s | 5,032m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F | 76.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (temper/temperature not stated) |
| Thermal expansion | 8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F | 26.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical (temperature range not stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41.5µm growth3.23x less | 134µm growth |
| Specific heat | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F | 1,040J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.426mm²/s | 41.8mm²/s98.1x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 50.1W/m | 9,159W/m183x more resistant |
| Max service temperature | 511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit | 149°Csourcestated application limit |
| Values for | Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025) | AZ31B-H24 sheet 0.016-0.062 in., MIL-HDBK-5J Table 4.2.1.0(b) (AMS 4377); strengths are S-basis MINIMUMS |
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 Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
Magnesium AZ31B-H24 is stronger: its yield strength is 220 MPa against tensile strength 41 MPa for Glass (5.37x).
Which is lighter, Glass or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
Magnesium AZ31B-H24 is lighter: 1,769 kg/m³ against 2,500 kg/m³ for Glass.
Which is stiffer, Glass or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
Glass is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 44.8 GPa for Magnesium AZ31B-H24, so the same part in Glass deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Glass or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
For the same stiffness or strength: Glass is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Magnesium AZ31B-H24 is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Glass | Magnesium AZ31B-H24 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 14% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 11% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 21% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 7.58x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 4.33x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 3.27x 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 Magnesium AZ31B-H24?
Magnesium AZ31B-H24 conducts heat better: 76.9 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 26.8 µm/m·K for Magnesium AZ31B-H24.