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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Sources3 documents: Cleveland-Cliffs, KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride
KYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03
Iron
Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal.
1
ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (2022)Cleveland-Cliffsarchived copyIron · Yield strength: typical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Elongation at break: typical, gauge 4D0Iron · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, after SRA/recrystallization annealIron · Density: typicalIron · Thermal conductivity: typical at 20 °CIron · Thermal expansion: mean, 20-399 °CIron · Specific heat: typicalIron · Melting point: typical
2
AN216A Aluminium Nitride Data Sheet (2023)KYOCERA Fineceramics Europearchived copyCeramic Aluminum Nitride · Flexural strength: 3-point bending strength (JIS R 1601)Ceramic Aluminum Nitride · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical (JIS R 1602)Ceramic Aluminum Nitride · Density: typical (JIS R 1634)Ceramic Aluminum Nitride · Poisson's ratio: typical (JIS R 1602)Ceramic Aluminum Nitride · Thermal conductivity: typical (JIS R 1611)Ceramic Aluminum Nitride · Thermal expansion: mean, 40-400 °C (JIS R 1618)Ceramic Aluminum Nitride · Specific heat: typical (JIS R 1611)
3
Elastic Properties of Metals and Alloys, I. Iron, Nickel, and Iron-Nickel Alloys, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 2 (1973)National Institute of Standards and Technologyarchived copyIron · Poisson's ratio: NIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron)
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
Which is lighter, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Iron?
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter: 3,400 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Iron?
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 207 GPa for Iron, so the same part in Ceramic Aluminum Nitride deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
Part that must be
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride
Iron
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
3.57x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
2.87x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2.67x heavier
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).
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Iron?
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 73.2 W/m·K for Iron.
Which expands less with temperature?
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 13.7 µm/m·K for Iron.