Materials / Compare

Stainless Steel 304 vs. Steel AISI 1045

Compare Stainless Steel 304 vs. Steel AISI 1045 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Stainless Steel 304Wrought
Steel AISI 1045Wrought
MechanicalStainless Steel 304Steel AISI 1045
Yield strength241MPa1producer-stated531MPa22.2x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength586MPa1producer-stated627MPa2
Elongation at break55%14.58x more ductilein 2 in12%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)193GPa1210GPa3
Density8,030kg/m³17,800kg/m³3
Strength to weight30kN·m/kg68.1kN·m/kg2.27x higher
Stiffness to weight24MN·m/kg26.9MN·m/kg12% higher
Poisson's ratiodesign value0.340.33
Shear modulus74.2GPa80.8GPa9% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus161GPa175GPa9% higher
Speed of sound4,903m/s5,189m/s6% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 4340Steel 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%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Stainless Steel 304Steel AISI 1045
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 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 4340Steel 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 GF30Stainless Steel 304Steel AISI 1045
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalStainless Steel 304Steel AISI 1045
Thermal conductivityat 100 °C16.2W/m·K140–45W/m·K3
Thermal expansionmean16.9µm/m·K112µm/m·K341% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing84.5µm growth60µm growth41% less
Specific heatmean500J/kg·K1460–480J/kg·K3
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.03mm²/s11.6mm²/s2.87x faster
Thermal shock resistance838W/m6,269W/m7.48x more resistant
Melting pointmelting range1,399–1,454°C1not sourced
Max service temperaturecontinuous899°C1not sourced
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 4340Steel 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%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Stainless Steel 304Steel AISI 1045
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 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 4340Steel 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%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Stainless Steel 304Steel AISI 1045
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Cleveland-Cliffs, Niagara LaSalle, Ovako, Steel Construction Institute
Stainless Steel 304
Type 304, annealed flat-rolled (Cleveland-Cliffs 304/304L Product Data Bulletin, May 2021); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual
Steel AISI 1045
AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants
  1. 1
    304/304L Stainless Steel Product Data Bulletin (2021)Cleveland-CliffsStainless Steel 304 · Yield strength: typical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C)Stainless Steel 304 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C)Stainless Steel 304 · Elongation at break: typical, annealed, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)Stainless Steel 304 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, in tensionStainless Steel 304 · Density: typicalStainless Steel 304 · Thermal conductivity: at 100 °CStainless Steel 304 · Thermal expansion: mean, 0–100 °CStainless Steel 304 · Specific heat: mean, 0–100 °CStainless Steel 304 · Melting point: melting rangeStainless Steel 304 · Max service temperature: continuous, oxidation (scaling) limit in air
  2. 2
    1045 PropertiesNiagara LaSallearchived copySteel AISI 1045 · Yield strength: producer-stated, cold drawnSteel AISI 1045 · Ultimate tensile strength: producer-stated, cold drawnSteel AISI 1045 · Elongation at break: in 2 in (50.8 mm)
  3. 3
    C45 Steel GradeOvakoSteel AISI 1045 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalSteel AISI 1045 · Density: typicalSteel AISI 1045 · Poisson's ratio: typicalSteel AISI 1045 · Thermal conductivity: typical range, ambientSteel AISI 1045 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-300 °CSteel AISI 1045 · Specific heat: typical range, 50/100 °C
  4. 4
    Design Manual for Structural Stainless Steel, 4th Edition (P413)Steel Construction Institutearchived copyStainless Steel 304 · 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 Stainless Steel 304 stronger than Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 241 MPa for Stainless Steel 304 (2.2x).

Which is lighter, Stainless Steel 304 or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 8,030 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 304.

Which is stiffer, Stainless Steel 304 or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 193 GPa for Stainless Steel 304, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Stainless Steel 304 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 beStainless Steel 304Steel AISI 1045
Stiff rod or tie (tension)12% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)7% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate6% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie2.27x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.74x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1.53x heavierlighter

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 304 or Steel AISI 1045?

Stainless Steel 304 stretches further before it breaks: 55% elongation at break against 12% for Steel AISI 1045.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Stainless Steel 304 or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 conducts heat better: 42.5 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 304.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 304.

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