Young modulus comparison
General properties
Section titled “General properties”The Young modulus (E) quantifies the elastic stiffness of a material, defined by the relationship between uniaxial stress (σ) and strain (ε) in the linear elastic region. It is expressed in pascals (Pa) and usually in gigapascals (GPa). The higher the modulus, the greater the stress required to produce a given deformation. Typical values range from 0.01 GPa for elastomers up to 1220 GPa for diamond; in structural metals such as steel it is around 200 GPa.
Chemical composition
Section titled “Chemical composition”Compositions of some common materials extracted from the sources are:
| Material | C (max) | Si (max) | Mn (max) | Cr | Ni | P (max) | S (max) | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AISI 304 (stainless steel) | 0,08 | 1,0 | 2,0 | 17,5–20,0 | 8,0–11,0 | 0,045 | 0,03 | Fe balance |
| S275JR (structural steel) | 0,22 | – | 1,5 | – | – | 0,04 | 0,04 | N max 0,012; Cu max 0,55; Fe balance |
| S355JR (structural steel) | 0,24 | 0,55 | 1,6 | – | – | 0,04 | 0,04 | N max 0,012; Cu max 0,55; Fe balance |
| Aluminum 1100 (approx.) | – | ≤1,0 (Fe+Si) | ≤0,05 | – | – | – | – | Al ≥99,0 |
Mechanical properties
Section titled “Mechanical properties”The following table presents the Young modulus and other strength properties for selected materials. Values indicate the typical range or nominal values according to usual delivery conditions.
| Material | Young Modulus (GPa) | Yield Strength (MPa) | Tensile Strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel AISI 304 | 190 – 203 | 205 – 310 | 510 – 620 |
| Structural steel S275JR (thickness ≤16 mm) | ~200 | 275 | 430 – 580 |
| Structural steel S355JR (thickness ≤16 mm) | ~200 | 355 | 510 – 680 |
| Structural steel ASTM A36 | 200 | 250 | 400 |
| Stainless steel AISI 302 | 180 | – | 860 |
| Gray cast iron | 130 | – | 170 (compression) |
| Pure aluminum | 69 | 95 | 110 |
| Aluminum alloys | 70 | – | – |
| Copper | 117 | 70 | 220 |
| Brass | 102 – 125 | – | 250 |
| Phosphor bronze | 116 | – | – |
| Titanium alloy | 105 – 120 | 730 | 900 |
| Nickel | 170 | – | – |
| Nylon 6 | 2 – 4 | 45 | 45 – 90 |
| PVC (unplasticized) | 2,4 – 4,1 | – | – |
| Pine wood (along the grain) | 9 | – | 40 |
| Oak wood (along the grain) | 11 | – | – |
| CFRP (unidirectional carbon fiber) | 150 | – | – |
| Diamond | 1220 | – | – |
| Graphene (monolayer) | ~1000 | – | – |
Conversion: 1 GPa = 0,145×10^6 psi ≈ 145 kpsi
Physical properties
Section titled “Physical properties”Densities of some reference materials are compared.
| Material | Density (Mg/m³) | Density (lb/ft³) |
|---|---|---|
| AISI 304 | 7,85 – 8,06 | 490 – 503 |
| Carbon steel (S275JR/S355JR) | ~7,85 | ~490 |
| Aluminum | 2,70 | 169 |
| Copper | 8,96 | 559 |
| Titanium | 4,51 | 281 |
| PVC | 1,38 – 1,41 | 86 – 88 |
Thermal properties
Section titled “Thermal properties”Available thermal data for stainless steel AISI 304.
| Property | Value (SI) | Value (Imperial) |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity at 100 °C | 14 – 17 W/m·K | 26,2 – 31,8 BTU·ft/h·ft²·°F |
| Specific heat | 490 – 530 J/kg·K | 0,379 – 0,410 BTU/lb·°F |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion (20–100 °C) | 16 – 18 ×10⁻⁶ /K | 28,8 – 32,4 ×10⁻⁶ /°F |
| Melting range | 1673 – 1723 K (1400 – 1450 °C) | 2552 – 2642 °F |
Common applications
Section titled “Common applications”- AISI 304: food processing equipment, kitchen utensils, piping, cryogenic tanks, architecture.
- S275JR/S355JR: building structures, bridges, wind turbine towers, heavy machinery.
- Aluminum: aerospace, packaging, heat sinks, architectural profiles.
- Copper: electrical conductors, water pipes, heat exchangers.
- Titanium alloy: aerospace industry, medical implants, high-performance components.
- CFRP: sports equipment, aerospace structures, competition automotive.
- Nylon: gears, bearings, textile fibers.
Comparison with other materials
Section titled “Comparison with other materials”Specific stiffness (Young modulus / density) is presented, a useful parameter for lightweight design.
| Material | E/ρ (GPa·m³/Mg) |
|---|---|
| AISI 304 | ≈25,0 |
| Aluminum | ≈25,6 |
| Copper | ≈13,1 |
| Titanium alloy | ≈24,4 |
| Unidirectional CFRP | ≈93,8 |
| Wood (pine) | ≈16,4 |
| Diamond | ≈339 |
Carbon fiber composites show the highest specific stiffness among common engineering materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)”What is the Young modulus of stainless steel 304?
Section titled “What is the Young modulus of stainless steel 304?”Stainless steel 304 has a Young modulus between 190 GPa and 203 GPa (27,6×10⁶ psi to 29,4×10⁶ psi), depending on the treatment and exact composition within the standard.
Which material has the highest Young modulus?
Section titled “Which material has the highest Young modulus?”Diamond has the highest Young modulus at 1220 GPa, followed by monolayer graphene at approximately 1000 GPa and silicon carbide with a range of 450 to 650 GPa.
What is the Young modulus of a structural steel S275JR?
Section titled “What is the Young modulus of a structural steel S275JR?”Structural steel S275JR has a Young modulus of approximately 200 GPa (29,0×10⁶ psi), a value similar to that of most unalloyed carbon steels.
Which material combines high stiffness and low density?
Section titled “Which material combines high stiffness and low density?”Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) achieves a specific stiffness of around 93,8 GPa·m³/Mg, approximately 3.7 times higher than that of stainless steel 304.
What is the stiffness difference between aluminum and steel?
Section titled “What is the stiffness difference between aluminum and steel?”Pure aluminum has a Young modulus of 69 GPa (10,0×10⁶ psi), while a typical structural steel reaches 200 GPa; this means steel is about 2.9 times stiffer than aluminum.
How do you convert Young modulus from GPa to psi?
Section titled “How do you convert Young modulus from GPa to psi?”The conversion is 1 GPa = 145,038 psi; for example, a value of 200 GPa equals 29,0×10⁶ psi.
References
Section titled “References”- azom.com: https://www.azom.com/properties.aspx?ArticleID=965
- engineeringtoolbox.com: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/young-modulus-d_417.html
- steelnumber.com: https://www.steelnumber.com/en/compare_steel_eu.php?name_id_3=3&name_id_4=8&count_mat=19