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, ATI, Wieland, Steel Construction Institute
Copper C110
C11000 ETP copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 1 in. rod, copper.org typical values
Stainless Steel 316
ATI 316 (UNS S31600), annealed 1.0 mm sheet, ATI technical data sheet (2012); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual
ATI 316, 316L, 317 and 317L Technical Data Sheet (2012)ATIarchived copyStainless Steel 316 · Yield strength: typical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheetStainless Steel 316 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheetStainless Steel 316 · Elongation at break: typical (representative), annealed, in 2 in. (51 mm)Stainless Steel 316 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, in tensionStainless Steel 316 · Density: typicalStainless Steel 316 · Thermal conductivity: 20–100 °CStainless Steel 316 · Thermal expansion: mean, 20–100 °CStainless Steel 316 · Specific heat: at 20 °CStainless Steel 316 · Melting point: melting rangeStainless Steel 316 · Max service temperature: oxidation (scaling) limit in air
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
Design Manual for Structural Stainless Steel, 4th Edition (P413)Steel Construction Institutearchived copyStainless Steel 316 · Poisson's ratio: design value (structural stainless steels)
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 Stainless Steel 316?
Stainless Steel 316 is stronger: its yield strength is 265 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C110 (3.84x).
Which is lighter, Copper C110 or Stainless Steel 316?
Stainless Steel 316 is lighter: 8,027 kg/m³ against 8,913 kg/m³ for Copper C110.
Which is stiffer, Copper C110 or Stainless Steel 316?
Stainless Steel 316 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C110, so the same part in Stainless Steel 316 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C110 or Stainless Steel 316?
For the same stiffness or strength: Stainless Steel 316 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
Stainless Steel 316
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
1.89x heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
45% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
33% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
4.26x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
2.72x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
2.18x 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).
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Copper C110 or Stainless Steel 316?
Copper C110 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 14.6 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless Steel 316 expands less: 16.5 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C110.