304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity vs AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy
概览
304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity is a stainless steel alloy while AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy is a aluminum alloy. Despite their different base metals, they are frequently compared in material selection. 304 Stainless Steel offers a tensile strength of 585 MPa compared to 6061 Aluminum's 2.9E+2 MPa. 6061 Aluminum is generally more cost-effective (cost rating 7/10 vs 6/10).
Key Differences
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '585 MPa', 'alloy_b': '2.9E+2 MPa', 'property': 'Tensile Strength'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '235 MPa', 'alloy_b': '2.2E+2 MPa', 'property': 'Yield Strength'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '149 HB', 'alloy_b': 'N/A', 'property': 'Hardness (Brinell)'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': 'N/A', 'alloy_b': 'N/A', 'property': 'Density'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': 'N/A', 'alloy_b': 'N/A', 'property': 'Melting Point'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '6/10', 'alloy_b': '4/10', 'property': 'Strength Rating'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '7/10', 'alloy_b': '6/10', 'property': 'Corrosion Rating'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '6/10', 'alloy_b': '7/10', 'property': 'Cost Rating'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '4/10', 'alloy_b': '8/10', 'property': 'Machinability Rating'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '7/10', 'alloy_b': '4/10', 'property': 'Temperature Rating'}
- ◆ {'alloy_a': '5/10', 'alloy_b': '9/10', 'property': 'Weight Rating'}
Ratings Comparison
Strength
304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity
6/10
AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy
4/10
Corrosion Resistance
304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity
7/10
AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy
6/10
Lightweight
304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity
5/10
AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy
9/10
Machinability
304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity
4/10
AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy
8/10
Cost Efficiency
304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity
6/10
AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy
7/10
Temperature Resistance
304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity
7/10
AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy
4/10
Properties Comparison
| Property | 304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity | AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Base | Stainless Steel | Aluminum |
| Tensile Strength | 585.0 MPa | 290.0 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 235.0 MPa | 220.0 MPa |
| Elongation | 60.0 % | 12.0 % |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 149.0 HB | — |
| Elastic Modulus | — | — |
| Density | — | — |
| Melting Point | — | — |
| Thermal Conductivity | — | — |
| Weldable | — | — |
| Heat Treatable | — | — |
| Magnetic | — | — |
When to Use 304 Stainless Steel Properties: SS304 Composition, Density, Yield Strength, Thermal Conductivity, Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity
Choose 304 Stainless Steel when you need superior strength, better corrosion resistance, and better high-temperature performance.
When to Use AA 6061 Aluminum Alloy
Choose 6061 Aluminum when you need lighter weight, better machinability, and lower cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is stronger, 304 or 6061?
304 has a tensile strength of 585 MPa while 6061 reaches 2.9E+2 MPa, making 304 the stronger alloy in ultimate tensile terms. For yield strength, 304 is rated at 235 MPa versus 2.2E+2 MPa for 6061.
Does 304 or 6061 have better corrosion resistance?
304 offers better corrosion resistance. 304 rates 7/10 and 6061 rates 6/10 on the corrosion resistance scale.
Is 304 or 6061 easier to weld?
Weldability data is not available for both alloys. In terms of machinability, 304 scores 4/10 and 6061 scores 8/10. 6061 is easier to machine overall.
Which is more cost-effective, 304 or 6061?
6061 is generally more cost-effective. 304 has a cost rating of 6/10 and 6061 has 7/10 (higher means more affordable). Note that 304 (Stainless Steel) and 6061 (Aluminum) have different base metals, so raw material costs and availability may vary significantly by region.
Can I use 304 instead of 6061 for structural applications?
304 provides 585 MPa tensile strength versus 2.9E+2 MPa for 6061, so it meets or exceeds the structural strength requirement. Always validate substitution against your specific design codes and operating conditions.