Materials / Compare

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Steel AISI 4340

Compare Ceramic Aluminum Nitride vs. Steel AISI 4340 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
Steel AISI 4340Wrought
MechanicalCeramic Aluminum NitrideSteel AISI 4340
Yield strengthnone (brittle)1,035MPa1
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced1,140MPa1
Flexural strength310MPa2not sourced
Elongation at breaknone (brittle)18%1
Young's modulus (stiffness)320GPa2200GPa3
Density3,400kg/m³22.31x lighter7,840kg/m³1
Strength to weightnot sourced132kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight94.1MN·m/kg3.69x higher25.5MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.2420.323
Shear modulus129GPa1.7x stiffer in shear75.7GPa
Bulk modulus205GPa11% higher185GPa
Speed of sound9,701m/s1.92x faster5,049m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSteel AISI 4340
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Steel AISI 4340
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalCeramic Aluminum NitrideSteel AISI 4340
Thermal conductivity150W/m·K24x more heat through a fin37.5W/m·K1
Thermal expansionmean4.6µm/m·K22.46x lessmean11.3µm/m·K1
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing23µm growth2.46x less56.5µm growth
Specific heat710J/kg·K21.58x higher448J/kg·K1
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)62.1mm²/s5.82x faster10.7mm²/s
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced11,678W/m
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSteel AISI 4340
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Aluminum NitrideSteel AISI 4340
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources3 documents: Carpenter Technology, KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe, U.S. Department of Defense
Ceramic Aluminum Nitride
KYOCERA AN216A dense sintered aluminium nitride, typical values; KYOCERA Fineceramics Europe data sheet 2023.04.03
Steel AISI 4340
Carpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level
  1. 1
    Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC Data SheetCarpenter Technologyarchived copySteel AISI 4340 · Yield strength: typical, transverseSteel AISI 4340 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, transverseSteel AISI 4340 · Elongation at break: typical, transverseSteel AISI 4340 · Density: typicalSteel AISI 4340 · Thermal conductivity: typicalSteel AISI 4340 · Thermal expansion: mean, -18 to 93 °CSteel AISI 4340 · Specific heat: typical
  2. 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. 3
    MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseSteel AISI 4340 · Young's modulus (stiffness): MIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)Steel AISI 4340 · Poisson's ratio: MIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)

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 Steel AISI 4340?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is lighter: 3,400 kg/m³ against 7,840 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 4340.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Aluminum Nitride or Steel AISI 4340?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride is stiffer: Young's modulus 320 GPa against 200 GPa for Steel AISI 4340, 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 Steel AISI 4340?

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 beCeramic Aluminum NitrideSteel AISI 4340
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter3.69x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.92x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.7x 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 Steel AISI 4340?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride conducts heat better: 150 W/m·K against 37.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Aluminum Nitride expands less: 4.6 µm/m·K against 11.3 µm/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.

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