Materials / Compare
Iron vs. Steel AISI 1045
Compare Iron vs. Steel AISI 1045 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal | 531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal | 627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Elongation at break | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 | 12%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal | 210GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,800kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 23.7kN·m/kg | 68.1kN·m/kg2.88x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.3MN·m/kg | 26.9MN·m/kg2% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) | 0.3sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 80.7GPa | 80.8GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 158GPa | 175GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,132m/s | 5,189m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C | 40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient |
| Thermal expansion | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C | 12µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 68.5µm growth | 60µm growth14% less |
| Specific heat | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 20.7mm²/s1.79x faster | 11.6mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 3,447W/m | 6,269W/m1.82x more resistant |
| Melting point | 1,532°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Values for | Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal. | AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants |
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 Iron stronger than Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 186 MPa for Iron (2.85x).
Which is lighter, Iron or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, Iron or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 207 GPa for Iron, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Iron 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 | Iron | Steel AISI 1045 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 2% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 1% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 1% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.88x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.03x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 1.7x 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, Iron or Steel AISI 1045?
Iron conducts heat better: 73.2 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 13.7 µm/m·K for Iron.