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: Outokumpu, Niagara LaSalle, Ovako, Steel Construction Institute, Carpenter Technology
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 AISI 1045
AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants
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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
Design Manual for Structural Stainless Steel, 4th Edition (P413)Steel Construction Institutearchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Poisson's ratio: design value (structural stainless steels)
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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 Stainless Steel 303 stronger than Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 275 MPa for Stainless Steel 303 (1.93x).
Which is lighter, Stainless Steel 303 or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 303.
Which is stiffer, Stainless Steel 303 or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 200 GPa for Stainless Steel 303, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Stainless Steel 303 or Steel AISI 1045?
For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 1045 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
Stainless Steel 303
Steel AISI 1045
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
6% heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
4% heavier
lighter
Stiff panel or plate
3% heavier
lighter
Strong rod or tie
1.96x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.57x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
41% 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, Stainless Steel 303 or Steel AISI 1045?
Stainless Steel 303 stretches further before it breaks: 35% elongation at break against 12% for Steel AISI 1045.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Stainless Steel 303 or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 conducts heat better: 42.5 W/m·K against 15 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 16 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.