Materials / Compare
Stainless 304 vs. Titanium
Compare Stainless 304 vs. Titanium 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?
Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 241 MPa for Stainless 304 (3.67x).
Which is lighter, Stainless 304 or Titanium?
Titanium is lighter: 4,430 kg/m³ against 8,030 kg/m³ for Stainless 304.
Which is stiffer, Stainless 304 or Titanium?
Stainless 304 is stiffer: Young's modulus 193 GPa against 115 GPa for Titanium, so the same part in Stainless 304 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Stainless 304 or Titanium?
For the same stiffness or strength: Titanium 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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?
Stainless 304 conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 6.6 W/m·K for Titanium.
Which expands less with temperature?
Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Stainless 304.