Materials / Compare
Stainless 316 vs. Titanium
Compare Stainless 316 vs. Titanium strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 265MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet | 885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 583MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet | 940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed |
| Elongation at break | 61%sourcetypical (representative), annealed, in 2 in. (51 mm) | 16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourcetypical, in tension | 107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C |
| Density | 8,027kg/m³sourcetypical | 4,430kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 33kN·m/kg | 200kN·m/kg6.05x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 24.9MN·m/kg | 25.8MN·m/kg4% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) | 0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements |
| Shear modulus | 76.9GPa1.8x stiffer in shear | 42.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 167GPa | 121GPa |
| Speed of sound | 4,992m/s | 5,084m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 14.6W/m·Ksource20–100 °C | 6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed |
| Thermal expansion | 16.5µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C | 9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 82.5µm growth | 45µm growth1.83x less |
| Specific heat | 450J/kg·Ksourceat 20 °C | 580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 4.04mm²/s1.57x faster | 2.57mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 821W/m | 3,730W/m4.54x more resistant |
| Melting point | 1,390–1,440°Csourcemelting range | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | 871–899°Csourceoxidation (scaling) limit in air | 400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature |
| Values for | ATI 316 (UNS S31600), annealed 1.0 mm sheet, ATI technical data sheet (2012); 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 316 stronger than Titanium?
Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 265 MPa for Stainless 316 (3.34x).
Which is lighter, Stainless 316 or Titanium?
Titanium is lighter: 4,430 kg/m³ against 8,027 kg/m³ for Stainless 316.
Which is stiffer, Stainless 316 or Titanium?
Stainless 316 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 115 GPa for Titanium, so the same part in Stainless 316 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Stainless 316 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 316 | Titanium |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 4% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 37% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 1.5x heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 6.05x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 4.05x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 3.31x 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 316 or Titanium?
Stainless 316 conducts heat better: 14.6 W/m·K against 6.6 W/m·K for Titanium.
Which expands less with temperature?
Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 16.5 µm/m·K for Stainless 316.