Materials / Compare
Iron vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
Compare Iron vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V 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 | 885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal | 940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed |
| Elongation at break | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 | 16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal | 107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C |
| Density | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical | 4,430kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 23.7kN·m/kg | 200kN·m/kg8.44x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.3MN·m/kg2% higher | 25.8MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) | 0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements |
| Shear modulus | 80.7GPa1.89x stiffer in shear | 42.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 158GPa | 121GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,132m/s | 5,084m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C | 6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed |
| Thermal expansion | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C | 9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 68.5µm growth | 45µm growth1.52x less |
| Specific heat | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical | 580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 20.7mm²/s8.06x faster | 2.57mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 3,447W/m | 3,730W/m8% more resistant |
| Melting point | 1,532°Csourcetypical | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature |
| 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. | TIMETAL 6-4 (Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5) annealed plate typical (TIMET properties manual) + TIMET datasheet TMC-0150 physical properties |
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 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 186 MPa for Iron (4.76x).
Which is lighter, Iron or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is lighter: 4,430 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, Iron or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 115 GPa for Titanium Ti-6Al-4V, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Iron or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
For the same stiffness or strength: Iron is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Titanium Ti-6Al-4V 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 | Iron | Titanium Ti-6Al-4V |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 32% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 46% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 8.44x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 5.02x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 3.87x 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 Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Iron conducts heat better: 73.2 W/m·K against 6.6 W/m·K for Titanium Ti-6Al-4V.
Which expands less with temperature?
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 13.7 µm/m·K for Iron.