Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources5 documents: Copper Development Association, Outokumpu, Wieland, Steel Construction Institute, Carpenter Technology
Brass C360
C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values
Stainless Steel 303
1.4305 / UNS S30300, Outokumpu typical values (hot rolled, solution annealed) from 'Steel Grades, Properties and Global Standards'; max service from Carpenter CarTech 303 datasheet
Steel Grades, Properties and Global StandardsOutokumpuarchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Yield strength: Outokumpu typical (product P = hot rolled plate, transverse)Stainless Steel 303 · Ultimate tensile strength: Outokumpu typicalStainless Steel 303 · Elongation at break: Outokumpu typical, A5Stainless Steel 303 · Young's modulus (stiffness): at RT (Table 12)Stainless Steel 303 · Density: at RTStainless Steel 303 · Thermal conductivity: at RTStainless Steel 303 · Thermal expansion: mean, 20–100 °CStainless Steel 303 · Specific heat: at RT
3
Wieland-Z30 (CuZn39Pb2, C37700) Data SheetWielandarchived copyBrass C360 · Poisson's ratio: base material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature
4
Design Manual for Structural Stainless Steel, 4th Edition (P413)Steel Construction Institutearchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Poisson's ratio: design value (structural stainless steels)
5
Carpenter Stainless Type 303 Data SheetCarpenter Technologyarchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Max service temperature: continuous, scaling limit
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Brass C360 stronger than Stainless Steel 303?
Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 275 MPa for Stainless Steel 303 (13%).
Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 is lighter: 7,900 kg/m³ against 8,498 kg/m³ for Brass C360.
Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 96.5 GPa for Brass C360, so the same part in Stainless Steel 303 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Stainless Steel 303?
For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C360 is lighter for a strong rod or tie; Stainless Steel 303 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Brass C360
Stainless Steel 303
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
2.23x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
1.55x heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
37% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
lighter
5% heavier
Strong beam
about equal
about equal
Strong panel or plate
1% 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 is more ductile, Brass C360 or Stainless Steel 303?
Stainless Steel 303 stretches further before it breaks: 35% elongation at break against 25% for Brass C360.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Brass C360 or Stainless Steel 303?
Brass C360 conducts heat better: 116 W/m·K against 15 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless Steel 303 expands less: 16 µm/m·K against 20.5 µm/m·K for Brass C360.