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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Sources4 documents: Copper Development Association, Cleveland-Cliffs, Wieland, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Copper C110
C11000 ETP copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 1 in. rod, copper.org typical values
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.
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
3
Wieland-K32 (Cu-ETP, C11000) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C110 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K32 = Cu-ETP = C11000, rolled products)
4
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
Is Copper C110 stronger than Iron?
Iron is stronger: its yield strength is 186 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C110 (2.7x).
Which is lighter, Copper C110 or Iron?
Iron is lighter: 7,860 kg/m³ against 8,913 kg/m³ for Copper C110.
Which is stiffer, Copper C110 or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C110, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C110 or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: Iron 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
Copper C110
Iron
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
2x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
1.51x heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
37% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
3.06x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
2.2x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
1.86x 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, Copper C110 or Iron?
Copper C110 stretches further before it breaks: 55% elongation at break against 38% for Iron.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C110 or Iron?
Copper C110 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 73.2 W/m·K for Iron.
Which expands less with temperature?
Iron expands less: 13.7 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C110.