Materials / Compare
Rubber vs. Stainless Steel 304
Compare Rubber vs. Stainless Steel 304 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 | not given (tensile used) | 241MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 23MPasourcetypical | 586MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Elongation at break | 830%sourcetypical | 55%sourcetypical, annealed, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | not sourced | 193GPasourcetypical, in tension |
| Density | 960kg/m³sourcetypical (specific gravity) | 8,030kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 24kN·m/kg | 30kN·m/kg25% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | not sourced | 24MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.5sourcegovernment (NBS J. Res. 68A, 1964): computed by NBS for peroxide-cured gum NR vulcanizate, 25 °C, infinitesimal deformation0.49 in the solver: the linear element locks as the ratio nears 0.5 (nearly incompressible). | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 74.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 161GPa |
| Speed of sound | not sourced | 4,903m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.151W/m·Ksourcegovernment selected value (US Army Natick Laboratories TR 66-49-PR, 1966), soft vulcanized natural rubber, 25 °C | 16.2W/m·Ksourceat 100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | not sourced | 16.9µm/m·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | not sourced | 84.5µm growth |
| Specific heat | 1,881J/kg·Ksourcegovernment (NBS J. Res. 68A, Table 7; values observed for unvulcanized NR by Bekkedahl and Matheson), 25 °C | 500J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.0836mm²/s | 4.03mm²/s48.3x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 838W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,399–1,454°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | 70°Csourcecontinuous use operating range | 899°Csourcecontinuous, oxidation (scaling) limit in air |
| Values for | Weir Minerals Linatex Premium rubber (95 % natural rubber), typical physical properties, spec sheet WMD0118/202305 | Type 304, annealed flat-rolled (Cleveland-Cliffs 304/304L Product Data Bulletin, May 2021); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual |
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 Rubber stronger than Stainless Steel 304?
Stainless Steel 304 is stronger: its yield strength is 241 MPa against tensile strength 23 MPa for Rubber (10.5x).
Which is lighter, Rubber or Stainless Steel 304?
Rubber is lighter: 960 kg/m³ against 8,030 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 304.
Which is lighter for the same job, Rubber or Stainless Steel 304?
For the same stiffness or strength: Rubber is lighter for a strong beam, strong panel or plate; Stainless Steel 304 is lighter for a strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | Rubber | Stainless Steel 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Strong rod or tie | 25% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.75x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.58x heavier |
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, Rubber or Stainless Steel 304?
Stainless Steel 304 conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 0.151 W/m·K for Rubber.