Materials / Compare
Steel vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
Compare Steel vs. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V 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 | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC | 885MPasourcetypical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) | 940MPasourcetypical, plate, annealed |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 16%sourcetypical, in 2 in., plate annealed |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) | 107–122GPasourcetypical range, 20 °C |
| Density | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) | 4,430kg/m³sourcenominal |
| Strength to weight | 49kN·m/kg | 200kN·m/kg4.07x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.5MN·m/kg | 25.8MN·m/kg1% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) | 0.342sourcemean of TIMET measurements |
| Shear modulus | 76.9GPa1.8x stiffer in shear | 42.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 167GPa | 121GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,048m/s | 5,084m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C | 6.6W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, mill annealed |
| Thermal expansion | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) | 9µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 0-100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 60µm growth | 45µm growth33% less |
| Specific heat | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C | 580J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 13mm²/s5.06x faster | 2.57mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 5,390W/m45% more resistant | 3,730W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 400°Csourceupper recommended use temperature |
| Values for | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. | 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 Steel stronger than Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 385 MPa for Steel (2.3x).
Which is lighter, Steel or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is lighter: 4,430 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Steel or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 115 GPa for Titanium Ti-6Al-4V, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Steel 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 | Steel | Titanium Ti-6Al-4V |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 1% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 34% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 47% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 4.07x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 3.09x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 2.69x 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, Steel or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 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 12 µm/m·K for Steel.