Materials / Compare

Steel AISI 1018 vs. Steel AISI 1045

Compare Steel AISI 1018 vs. Steel AISI 1045 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Steel AISI 1018Wrought
Steel AISI 1045Wrought
MechanicalSteel AISI 1018Steel AISI 1045
Yield strengthproducer-stated372MPa1producer-stated531MPa243% stronger
Ultimate tensile strengthproducer-stated441MPa1producer-stated627MPa242% stronger
Elongation at breakin 2 in15%125% more ductilein 2 in12%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)base material200GPa3210GPa4
Densitybase material7,861kg/m³37,800kg/m³4
Strength to weight47.3kN·m/kg68.1kN·m/kg44% higher
Stiffness to weight25.4MN·m/kg26.9MN·m/kg6% higher
Poisson's ratiobase material0.3230.34
Shear modulus75.7GPa80.8GPa7% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus185GPa6% higher175GPa
Speed of sound5,043m/s5,189m/s3% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumStainless Steel 304Stainless 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 GF30Steel AISI 1018Steel AISI 1045
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumStainless Steel 304Stainless 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 GF30Steel AISI 1018Steel AISI 1045
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalSteel AISI 1018Steel AISI 1045
Thermal conductivitybase material51.9W/m·K340–45W/m·K4
Thermal expansionbase material12µm/m·K512µm/m·K4
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing60µm growth60µm growth
Specific heatbase material486J/kg·K3460–480J/kg·K4
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)13.6mm²/s17% faster11.6mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance5,473W/m6,269W/m15% more resistant
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumStainless Steel 304Stainless 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 GF30Steel AISI 1018Steel 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 NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumStainless Steel 304Stainless 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 GF30Steel AISI 1018Steel AISI 1045
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources5 documents: Niagara LaSalle, U.S. Department of Defense, Ovako
Steel AISI 1018
AISI 1018 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle, cold-finished bar producer)
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
    1018 PropertiesNiagara LaSallearchived copySteel AISI 1018 · Yield strength: producer-stated, cold drawnSteel AISI 1018 · Ultimate tensile strength: producer-stated, cold drawnSteel AISI 1018 · Elongation at break: in 2 in (50.8 mm)
  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
    MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseSteel AISI 1018 · Young's modulus (stiffness): base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Density: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Poisson's ratio: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Thermal conductivity: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)Steel AISI 1018 · Specific heat: base material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018)
  4. 4
    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
  5. 5
    S275JR Steel GradeOvakoSteel AISI 1018 · Thermal expansion: base material: unalloyed carbon steel, Ovako family table (S275JR, 'none alloyed structural steels', C <= 0.21%); mean 20-300 °C

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 Steel AISI 1018 stronger than Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 372 MPa for Steel AISI 1018 (43%).

Which is lighter, Steel AISI 1018 or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 7,861 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1018.

Which is stiffer, Steel AISI 1018 or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 200 GPa for Steel AISI 1018, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Steel AISI 1018 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 beSteel AISI 1018Steel AISI 1045
Stiff rod or tie (tension)6% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)3% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie44% heavierlighter
Strong beam28% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate20% 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, Steel AISI 1018 or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1018 stretches further before it breaks: 15% elongation at break against 12% for Steel AISI 1045.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Steel AISI 1018 or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1018 conducts heat better: 51.9 W/m·K against 42.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel AISI 1018 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 12 µm/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.

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