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PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes vs. Stainless Steel 17-4PH

Compare PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes vs. Stainless Steel 17-4PH strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planesComposite
Stainless Steel 17-4PHWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)1,275MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Ultimate tensile strength246–385MPasourcethe bare laminate's (fr4-370hr), in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039)1,379MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Elongation at breaknot sourced9%sourcetypical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)21.9–25.8GPasourcethe bare laminate's (fr4-370hr), in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2); the copper planes are left out197GPasourceH 900
Densitynot sourced7,800kg/m³sourceH 900
Strength to weightnot sourced163kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourced25.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.171–0.177sourcethe bare laminate's (fr4-370hr), in-plane: cross direction .. length direction0.272sourceH 900 (column)
Shear modulus10.2GPa77.4GPa7.62x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus12.2GPa144GPa
Speed of soundnot sourced5,026m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivitynot sourced17.9W/m·Ksourceat 149 °C (300 °F), H 900
Thermal expansion13–14µm/m·Ksourcethe bare laminate's (fr4-370hr), in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C)10.8µm/m·Ksourcemean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing67.5µm growth54µm growth25% less
Specific heatnot sourced460J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C, H 900
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced4.99mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced7,809W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourced316°Csourcestrength-retention limit (not oxidation)
Values forA whole circuit board read as one orthotropic plate: the JEDEC high-K thermal test board (JESD51-7, "2s2p"), 0.062 in (1.575 mm) thick with two internal solid copper planes 0.0014 in (1 oz) thick, as Texas Instruments SZZA017A Table 1 gives it. Copper C110 and the Isola 370HR laminate from this library; the layers conduct in parallel along the board and in series through it (boardStackup.ts). Its two 0.0028 in trace layers cover little of the board and are left out; vias are ignored. Mechanical values are the bare laminate's.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 PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes stronger than Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against tensile strength 315 MPa for PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes (4.04x).

Which is stiffer, PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 23.9 GPa for PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes, so the same part in Stainless Steel 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.

Which expands less with temperature?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 13.5 µm/m·K for PCB Board FR-4, 2 copper planes.

Among 73 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Aluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Aluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Strength against density

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