Engineering Material Properties Reference
Sortable reference table of 33+ materials — steels, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, titanium, nickel, polymers, ceramics. Properties: ρ, E, σy, σUTS, α, k, cp, Tm.
This free online engineering material properties reference provides instant results with no signup required. All calculations run directly in your browser — your data is never sent to a server. Supports both metric (SI) and imperial units with built-in unit selection dropdowns on every input field, so you can work in whatever units your problem provides. Designed for engineering students and professionals working through coursework, design projects, or quick reference calculations.
Engineering Material Properties Reference
Mechanical and thermal properties of 33+ engineering materials. Click numeric column headers to sort.
34 materials shown
| Material | Category | ρ (kg/m³) | E (GPa) | σ_y (MPa) | σ_UTS (MPa) | ε_f (%) | α (×10⁻⁶/°C) | k (W/m·K) | cp (J/kg·K) | T_m (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Steel 1020 | Steel | 7,870 | 200 | 210 | 380 | 35 | 11.7 | 51.9 | 486 | 1520 |
| Carbon Steel 1040 | Steel | 7,870 | 200 | 355 | 620 | 28 | 11.3 | 50.7 | 486 | 1510 |
| Carbon Steel 1045 | Steel | 7,870 | 200 | 310 | 565 | 30 | 11.7 | 49.8 | 486 | 1510 |
| Carbon Steel 4140 (HT) | Steel | 7,850 | 200 | 655 | 1020 | 15 | 12.3 | 42.6 | 473 | 1500 |
| Stainless Steel 304 | Steel | 8,000 | 193 | 215 | 505 | 70 | 17.3 | 16.2 | 500 | 1450 |
| Stainless Steel 316 | Steel | 8,000 | 193 | 205 | 515 | 60 | 16 | 16.3 | 500 | 1390 |
| Stainless Steel 17-4 PH | Steel | 7,780 | 197 | 1170 | 1310 | 10 | 10.8 | 18.3 | 460 | 1400 |
| Tool Steel D2 | Steel | 7,700 | 210 | 1860 | 2100 | 2 | 10.7 | 20 | 460 | 1420 |
| Cast Iron (Gray) | Steel | 7,200 | 100 | — | 200 | 0.5 | 10.8 | 46 | 500 | 1250 |
| Cast Iron (Ductile) | Steel | 7,100 | 169 | 310 | 414 | 18 | 11 | 36 | 503 | 1175 |
| Aluminum 1100-H14 | Aluminum | 2,710 | 69 | 110 | 124 | 9 | 23.6 | 222 | 904 | 655 |
| Aluminum 2024-T3 | Aluminum | 2,780 | 73 | 345 | 483 | 18 | 23.4 | 121 | 875 | 640 |
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | Aluminum | 2,700 | 69 | 276 | 310 | 12 | 23.6 | 167 | 896 | 660 |
| Aluminum 7075-T6 | Aluminum | 2,810 | 72 | 503 | 572 | 11 | 23.4 | 130 | 960 | 635 |
| Aluminum 356-T6 (Cast) | Aluminum | 2,685 | 72 | 164 | 228 | 3 | 22 | 151 | 963 | 610 |
| Copper C11000 (ETP) | Copper | 8,940 | 117 | 70 | 220 | 45 | 17 | 391 | 385 | 1085 |
| Brass C26000 (70/30) | Copper | 8,530 | 110 | 125 | 340 | 68 | 19.9 | 120 | 375 | 940 |
| Bronze C51000 (Ph-Br) | Copper | 8,800 | 110 | 140 | 340 | 64 | 17.8 | 69 | 380 | 1050 |
| Beryllium Copper C17200 | Copper | 8,250 | 128 | 1100 | 1310 | 3 | 17.1 | 105 | 418 | 930 |
| Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5 | Titanium | 4,430 | 114 | 880 | 950 | 14 | 8.6 | 6.7 | 526 | 1660 |
| Ti CP Grade 2 | Titanium | 4,510 | 105 | 275 | 345 | 20 | 8.6 | 16.4 | 520 | 1670 |
| Nickel 200 | Nickel | 8,908 | 204 | 148 | 462 | 47 | 13.3 | 70.2 | 456 | 1455 |
| Inconel 718 | Nickel | 8,190 | 200 | 1034 | 1241 | 12 | 13 | 11.4 | 435 | 1336 |
| Hastelloy C-276 | Nickel | 8,890 | 205 | 283 | 690 | 62 | 11.2 | 10.2 | 427 | 1370 |
| Magnesium AZ31B | Magnesium | 1,770 | 45 | 220 | 290 | 15 | 26 | 96 | 1024 | 630 |
| HDPE | Polymer | 960 | 1.1 | 26 | 33 | 600 | 120 | 0.49 | 1900 | 130 |
| Nylon 6/6 (PA66) | Polymer | 1,140 | 2.9 | 55 | 83 | 60 | 80 | 0.25 | 1700 | 260 |
| PEEK | Polymer | 1,320 | 3.6 | 91 | 100 | 50 | 47 | 0.25 | 1340 | 343 |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | Polymer | 1,200 | 2.4 | 62 | 65 | 110 | 68 | 0.2 | 1260 | 267 |
| ABS | Polymer | 1,050 | 2.3 | 45 | 40 | 5 | 90 | 0.17 | 1400 | 105 |
| Alumina Al₂O₃ | Ceramic | 3,900 | 380 | — | 400 | 0 | 7.4 | 30 | 775 | 2054 |
| Silicon Carbide (SiC) | Ceramic | 3,210 | 410 | — | 400 | 0 | 4 | 120 | 750 | 2830 |
| Soda-Lime Glass | Ceramic | 2,500 | 72 | — | 50 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 750 | 730 |
| Tungsten Carbide (WC) | Ceramic | 15,800 | 550 | — | 1400 | 0 | 5.2 | 88 | 200 | 2870 |
Ashby Map: Young's Modulus vs Density (log–log)
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How to Use This Calculator
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Formula Reference
Engineering Material Properties Reference Formula
See calculator inputs for the governing equation
Variables: All variables and their units are labeled in the calculator interface above. Input fields accept values in multiple unit systems — select your preferred unit from the dropdown next to each field.
When to Use This Calculator
- •Use the Engineering Material Properties Reference when solving homework or exam problems that require quick numerical verification of your hand calculations — instant feedback helps identify arithmetic errors before they propagate.
- •Use it during the early design phase to rapidly iterate on parameters and narrow down feasible configurations before committing time to detailed finite element simulations or full design packages.
- •Use it when reviewing a colleague's calculation or checking a vendor's data sheet for plausibility — a quick sanity check can prevent costly downstream errors.
- •Use it to generate reference data for a technical report or presentation without manual computation, ensuring consistent, reproducible numbers throughout the document.
- •Use it in the field when a quick estimate is needed and a full engineering software package is not available.
About This Calculator
The Engineering Material Properties Reference is a precision engineering calculation tool designed for students, engineers, and technical professionals. Sortable reference table of 33+ materials — steels, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, titanium, nickel, polymers, ceramics. Properties: ρ, E, σy, σUTS, α, k, cp, Tm. All calculations are performed using established engineering formulas from the relevant scientific literature and standards. Inputs support both metric (SI) and imperial unit systems, with unit conversion handled automatically — simply select your preferred unit from the dropdown next to each field. Results are computed instantly in the browser without sending data to a server, ensuring both speed and privacy. This calculator is intended as a supplementary tool for learning and design exploration; always verify results against authoritative references for safety-critical applications.
The Theory Behind It
Metal properties reference tables tabulate the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of common engineering metals and alloys. Mechanical properties include density, Young's modulus (E), yield strength (σ_y), ultimate tensile strength (σ_u), elongation at break, Poisson's ratio, and hardness. Thermal properties include specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient, and melting point. Electrical properties include electrical resistivity and temperature coefficient of resistance. Common metals in engineering tables include carbon and alloy steels (various grades), stainless steels (304, 316, 17-4 PH), aluminum alloys (6061, 7075, 2024), copper and copper alloys (brass, bronze), titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V), nickel alloys (Inconel 718, Monel), cast iron (gray, ductile), and various specialty materials. Property values serve as starting points for design calculations, material selection trade studies, and failure analysis. Tables typically report room-temperature properties with notes about temperature dependence for critical applications. For high-temperature or cryogenic applications, additional temperature-dependent data are needed.
Real-World Applications
- •Material selection for structural design: compare strength-to-weight, strength-to-cost, and corrosion resistance across candidate materials to identify the best option for a specific application.
- •Failure analysis: compare actual failure loads and patterns with published material properties to identify defects, quality issues, or overload conditions.
- •Manufacturing process planning: machinability, formability, and weldability ratings from property tables guide process selection and parameter choices.
- •Thermal system design: use specific heat, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion for heat exchanger, pressure vessel, and hot equipment design.
- •Educational reference: undergraduate engineering courses rely on metal property tables as standard references for homework and exam problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What properties are included in metal reference tables?
Typically: density, Young's modulus, yield strength, ultimate strength, elongation, Poisson's ratio, hardness (Rockwell or Brinell), specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient, electrical resistivity, and melting point. Some tables also include fatigue strength, fracture toughness, corrosion characteristics, and machinability ratings.
Are these values exact for all metal grades?
Values are typical for the specified grade under standard heat treatment. Real material properties vary with: alloy composition within allowable ranges, heat treatment history, grain structure, processing method (rolled, cast, extruded), testing temperature, and strain rate. Published values are usually average or minimum specifications — real parts may exceed these, and critical applications should use material test reports for the specific lot.
How do properties vary with temperature?
Young's modulus decreases modestly with increasing temperature (about 10-20% reduction from room temperature to 500°C for most metals). Yield strength decreases more significantly, especially above 0.3-0.4 × melting temperature. Thermal conductivity typically decreases with increasing temperature for metals. For precision analysis at elevated temperatures, use temperature-dependent data rather than room-temperature values.
What's a typical yield strength for steel?
Mild carbon steel (A36): σ_y = 250 MPa (36 ksi). Structural steel (A572 Grade 50): σ_y = 345 MPa (50 ksi). High-strength low-alloy (HSLA): 450-550 MPa. Quenched and tempered steels: 600-900+ MPa. Ultra-high-strength steels (maraging, high-carbon martensite): 1500-2000+ MPa. The wide range reflects different alloys and heat treatments used for different applications.
How do I choose between aluminum and steel?
Compare strength-to-weight ratios (aluminum alloys often equal or exceed steel), cost (steel is typically 1/3 to 1/5 the cost of aluminum per pound), stiffness (steel has 3× the Young's modulus, which matters for deflection-critical applications), corrosion resistance (aluminum is better in most environments without coating), and manufacturing considerations. The right choice depends on the specific application requirements.
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References & Further Reading
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