Materials / Compare
Glass vs. Stainless 17-4PH
Compare Glass vs. Stainless 17-4PH 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) | 1,275MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability | 1,379MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip |
| Flexural strength | 41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile) | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 9%sourcetypical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcetypical | 197GPasourceH 900 |
| Density | 2,500kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,800kg/m³sourceH 900 |
| Strength to weight | 16.4kN·m/kg | 163kN·m/kg9.97x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 28.8MN·m/kg14% higher | 25.3MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.22sourcetypical | 0.272sourceH 900 (column) |
| Shear modulus | 29.5GPa | 77.4GPa2.62x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 42.9GPa | 144GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,367m/s | 5,026m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F | 17.9W/m·Ksourceat 149 °C (300 °F), H 900 |
| Thermal expansion | 8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F | 10.8µm/m·Ksourcemean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900 |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41.5µm growth30% less | 54µm growth |
| Specific heat | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F | 460J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C, H 900 |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.426mm²/s | 4.99mm²/s11.7x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 50.1W/m | 7,809W/m156x more resistant |
| Max service temperature | 511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit | 316°Csourcestrength-retention limit (not oxidation) |
| Values for | Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025) | Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021) |
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 Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against tensile strength 41 MPa for Glass (31.1x).
Which is lighter, Glass or Stainless 17-4PH?
Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Stainless 17-4PH.
Which is stiffer, Glass or Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 72 GPa for Glass, so the same part in Stainless 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Glass or Stainless 17-4PH?
For the same stiffness or strength: Glass is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Stainless 17-4PH is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Glass | Stainless 17-4PH |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 14% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.89x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.23x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 9.97x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 3.17x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.79x 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 Stainless 17-4PH?
Stainless 17-4PH conducts heat better: 17.9 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 10.8 µm/m·K for Stainless 17-4PH.