Materials / Compare
Stainless 304 vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
Compare Stainless 304 vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 241MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) | 885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 586MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) | 940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed |
| Elongation at break | 55%sourcetypical, annealed, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) | 16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 193GPasourcetypical, in tension | 107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C |
| Density | 8,030kg/m³sourcetypical | 4,430kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 30kN·m/kg | 200kN·m/kg6.66x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 24MN·m/kg | 25.8MN·m/kg8% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) | 0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements |
| Shear modulus | 74.2GPa1.74x stiffer in shear | 42.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 161GPa | 121GPa |
| Speed of sound | 4,903m/s | 5,084m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 16.2W/m·Ksourceat 100 °C | 6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed |
| Thermal expansion | 16.9µm/m·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C | 9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 84.5µm growth | 45µm growth1.88x less |
| Specific heat | 500J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C | 580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 4.03mm²/s1.57x faster | 2.57mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 838W/m | 3,730W/m4.45x more resistant |
| Melting point | 1,399–1,454°Csourcemelting range | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | 899°Csourcecontinuous, oxidation (scaling) limit in air | 400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature |
| Values for | 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 | 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 Stainless 304 stronger than Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 241 MPa for Stainless 304 (3.67x).
Which is lighter, Stainless 304 or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is lighter: 4,430 kg/m³ against 8,030 kg/m³ for Stainless 304.
Which is stiffer, Stainless 304 or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Stainless 304 is stiffer: Young's modulus 193 GPa against 115 GPa for Titanium Ti-6Al-4V, so the same part in Stainless 304 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Stainless 304 or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
For the same stiffness or strength: Titanium Ti-6Al-4V 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 | Stainless 304 | Titanium Ti-6Al-4V |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 8% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 40% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 1.52x heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 6.66x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 4.31x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 3.47x 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, Stainless 304 or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Stainless 304 conducts heat better: 16.2 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 16.9 µm/m·K for Stainless 304.