The strength of your metal matters a lot. Because it directly affects your part’s performance. If the metal is too fragile, it fails. If it’s too strong, it may cost more. That’s why a metal strength chart helps you decide.
Let’s say you’re working on aerospace parts. You’ll need a metal that handles extreme stress. But for basic tools, like spanners, less strength works fine. If you choose wrong, the result can be serious. Your part may break or cause more considerable damage.
So, how do you pick the right one? Among Titanium Vs. Steel or Stainless Steel vs Aluminum, and various other materials. Don’t worry; you’ll get all the answers here. Our precision CNC machining services allow you to choose the right option and get quality products.
Common Properties of Metal Materials
The selection of metal for any project depends heavily on strength attributes. It requires understanding the maximum tolerance for applied forces. Selecting improper strength levels will result in part failure. Comprehension of metal properties plays an essential role in all decisions.
Multiple metrics help engineers determine metal strength. Strength types of metals exist in different categories. Metal properties reveal the reaction of materials when under stress conditions. Each type of metal extends because of force, contracts under force, or absorbs impact without distorting.
Tensile Strength
Tensile Stress-Strain Curve
Metal stretching strength appears in measurements of tensile force. This measurement demonstrates the highest degree of force that can be applied to pull the metal. Stretch tests occur when you apply increasing tension to the metal. The stated limit of the metal marks the point at which it fails to recover its original shape.
The tensile strength resistance model has three main phases: yield strength, ultimate strength, and breaking strength, which reveal the behavior patterns of the metal material.
- Yield Strength: The indicated point marks where metal begins to change shape. The material develops permanent damage at this stage. Such stretching results in permanent deformation of the metal. The design safety depends heavily on this value.
- Ultimate Strength: A metal material’s maximum force to endure represents its peak strength. The maximum amount of stress occurs right before material breakdown. After reaching ultimate strength, the structure quickly loses its durability.
- Fracture Strength: At this point, the metal reaches its last threshold. The complete part may be fractured, and the material becomes inefficient for future use.
The comprehension of these stages allows designers to prevent failures in their products. The stretching of your part beyond its limits will cause it to malfunction. Engineers perform these estimates beforehand for their calculations.
Impact Strength
Impact Strength Demonstration
Impact strength demonstrates the metal’s capability to handle instant, powerful forces. The measurement determines the maximum energy the metal material can receive. When you perform this testing procedure, the metal responds to sudden strikes. The material indicates weak impact strength when it experiences breaking or crack formation.
The applications that require quick motion depend on this particular strength factor. Components that face shock and vibrations should come to mind. Metal components need to demonstrate resistance against sudden breakage.
People frequently believe that strong metals offer protection during impacts. Hardness stands in contrast to impact strength. Besides, Metal Heat Treating makes it more harder and stronger. It helps parts last longer and work better. Several metals demonstrate high toughness even though they lack the hardness property. Others are hard but brittle. So, don’t confuse the two.
The conditions surrounding an impact event determine how strong materials remain. The material’s impact strength decreases with an increase in temperature. When materials increase in thickness, they usually lead to reduced ability to resist impacts. Rapid failure occurs because of sharp edges or notches present on the material. Knowledge of this information lets you decide on materials with safety and durability features.
Compressive Strength
Compression Testing
Metal strength under pressure is measured through compressive strength testing. You should apply pressure until deformation begins to occur. The bending or flattening point indicates that the materials reach their strength boundary.
The standard laboratory approach to test this property applies to structural parts. Weight-bearing components should be evaluated for this measurement. The material needs to withstand weight stress before breaking or failing during application.
The necessary equipment for this testing procedure involves using a universal testing machine. The machine conducts a slow pressing motion on the metallic material and records the metal behavior during increasing force applications. Once a material experiences a shape change, the test procedure ends.
Metals that demonstrate high resistance to buckling will have increased compressive strength. Under pressure loads, these metals maintain their shape because of their strong resistance.
Why Do These Strengths Matter?
Ultimate Tensile Strength
Different projects need distinct strength criteria. When designing aircraft systems, tensile strength must be high. The required strength property for structural beams is compressive strength. When evaluating shock-absorbing parts, the crucial factor becomes impact strength.
The appropriate metal selection depends on how the material will be used. A wrong material choice can lead to equipment breakdowns and safety problems. A metal strength chart should be used whenever there is uncertainty about materials.
Prolean Tech will guide you toward making the correct material selection. We assist customers by walking them through their material selection process and testing requirements. Our team provides you with expert guidance in material selection without any uncertainties.
Try Prolean Now!
Why Do You Need To Understand Metal Strength?
The knowledge of metal strength extends beyond academic concepts. Their understanding allows you to make better decisions that assure safety in project applications. The upcoming section explains why you need to understand metal strength.
Designing Stronger Mechanical and Structural Parts
Strengthening determines the outcome of every part of the design process. You require information about potential points that can deform or crack. Engineers establish safety guidelines during the design procedure. Total ignorance of metal strength leads to part failures. The result is detrimental equipment damage and might cause serious accidents. Your goal always remains to determine the maximum force capacity of each part.
Choosing the Right Material for the Job
All metals display different operational properties. Some are strong under tension, and others resist heavy pressure better. The selection depends on your part’s requirements. When your project requires force pulling, choose a high-tensile-strength material. To determine the strength for holding weight, consider compressive strength.
Keeping People and Projects Safe
Safety wins. All resistant components protect vulnerable points from breaking down. A part failure can endanger the entire system. Once understood, the strength of your material becomes apparent. It allows you to avoid potential dangers.
Try Prolean Now!
What Are the Strongest Metals in Fabrication?
The success of metal projects depends heavily on their strength. Each fabrication task requires a special metal for maximum strength. Some metals are great for pressure, and others handle tension better. Metal cnc machining success depends upon selecting the appropriate material. Several powerful metallic materials are available during metal fabrication. These metals depend on high-stress conditions because they have proven reliable through testing.
Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel Metal Bar
The Steel-Alloy Grades belong to a group of the most potent metals. The substance consists of iron and carbon as the main ingredients, and can have more elements. But the combination of these mentioned two elements results in significant material strength. The maximum yield strength of steel is 260 MPa. And, it has a tensile strength of 580 MPa in this material.
This material’s impact performance remains solid. The carbon content decides how difficult the metal becomes. More carbon means stronger steel. Buildings, heavy machines, and equipment benefit significantly from its properties.
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel Roll
The stainless steel variety offers maximum strength and exceptional shine. It consists of steel, chromium, and manganese. Stainless steel’s combined tensile strength reaches 1,600 MPa, and yield strength rests at 1,560 MPa.
The material is highly resistant to corrosion while being strong and resistant to rusting. The combination of stainless steel provides excellent visual appeal and durability. The material is used in kitchen utensils, surgical instruments, and household appliances.
Tungsten
Tungsten Carbide Ring
Natural metals consider tungsten to have the most robust strength rating. The material reaches a distinctive tensile strength level of 1,725 MPa, which unusually surpasses other materials by default. However, the material exhibits brittleness in its pure state.
Tungsten is combined with other elements to improve its properties. Engineers prefer tungsten carbide as a material. The mixed metal substance makes a product that maintains superior durability and improved hardness.
The military, aerospace, and mining industries commonly use tungsten materials in their operations. If you require exceptional power, this choice delivers outstanding strength.
Titanium
Titanium Metal
People know titanium because of its exceptional balance between weight and strength properties. The material combination produces outstanding strength with minimal weight. It shows excellent resistance against rust, heat tolerance, and durability under challenging conditions.
The aerospace, automotive, and medical sectors use titanium for their tool requirements. The material meets all requirements for strong, light components that last a long time. Get more insights about Titanium Vs Aluminum.
Titanium Aluminide
Titanium Aluminide
Titanium aluminide typically includes titanium, aluminum, and other elements like niobium. These two substances create a material that maintains its strength while remaining lightweight.
The material achieves tensile strength measurements at 880 MPa and yield strength output at 800 MPa. It is especially suitable for use in aircraft engines and performance vehicles. This material stands out because it remains strong when exposed to light and survives high-pressure situations.
Chromium
Chromium Metal
Its strength properties alone do not define this metal. The material is one of the hardest metal substances ever measured. Because of its strong characteristics, it finds applications in metal coatings and alloys.
Stainless steel and plated components contain chromium, an essential material. However, using this material alone does not provide maximum strength. Combining chromium with other materials will dramatically increase both material hardness and durability.
Iron
Pure Iron
Although it is a basic metal, it still deserves attention. The material delivers 246 MPa yield strength and about 414 MPa tensile strength.
Iron metal is used for structural parts, chains, and tools. Its strength and excellent workability ensure that it maintains good shape quality.
The fabrication process of iron increases its strength through various treatment stages. It is widely accepted by industries worldwide. The team at Prolean Tech can help you select the most suitable metal when you need guidance.
Related To: Common Materials for CNC Machining
Metal Strength Comparison Chart
When selecting metal for a project, strength isn’t the only factor. You also need to consider hardness, density, and yield capacity. The metal softness chart below gives you a quick view of how different metals compare in strength and physical performance.
| Metal Type | Tensile Strength (PSI) | Yield Strength (PSI) | Rockwell Hardness (B Scale) | Density (kg/m³) |
| 304 Stainless Steel | 90,000 | 40,000 | 88 | 8,000 |
| 6061-T6 Aluminum | 45,000 | 40,000 | 60 | 2,720 |
| 5052-H32 Aluminum | 33,000 | 28,000 | — | 2,680 |
| 3003 Aluminum | 22,000 | 21,000 | 20–25 | 2,730 |
| A36 Structural Steel | 58,000–80,000 | 36,000 | — | 7,800 |
| Grade 50 Steel | 65,000 | 50,000 | — | 7,800 |
| Yellow Brass | — | 40,000 | 55 | 8,470 |
| Red Brass | — | 49,000 | 65 | 8,746 |
| Pure Copper | — | 28,000 | 10 | 8,940 |
| Phosphor Bronze | — | 55,000 | 78 | 8,900 |
| Aluminum Bronze | — | 27,000 | 77 | 7,700–8,700 |
| Pure Titanium | 63,000 | 37,000 | 80 | 4,500 |
Table Description: The above chart gives a solid overview to help you compare CNC machining materials easily. If you need help selecting the right metal for your application, Prolean Tech is ready to assist.
Final Thoughts
Deciding between metals remains essential because it may lead to product failure or success. Your design requirements dictate how you should match the material strength to them. The metal strength chart proves vital for such decisions. Before taking any action, the chart provides necessary clarity.
If the metal selection dilemma remains unresolved, the Prolean Tech organization aims to assist you. We provide on-demand CNC machining service for a diverse range of material options. Our experts recommend suitable material with appropriate strength to clients based on the product’s intended use to ensure the product’s availability and economic benefits. You can choose from 50+ materials. Besides, our team provides comprehensive support during each production stage, from design to the final part of delivery, expertly handling your project.
FAQ’s
Q1: What are the strongest metals in order?
Tungsten is the strongest metal, with the highest tensile strength. Next are steel alloys, titanium, and chromium. Each metal offers strength in different ways.
Q2: Which is stronger, titanium or tungsten?
Tungsten is stronger than titanium overall. It’s harder and has higher tensile strength. But titanium is lighter and more flexible. So, it depends on how you plan to use it.
Q3: How do you determine the strength of a metal?
You can test metal strength in different ways. Tensile strength shows how much force it handles, while hardness checks resistance to scratches and wear. Yield strength shows when it starts to bend.
Q4: How much does 1 pound of tungsten cost?
Tungsten prices can change over time. On average, it costs around $3.25 per pound. Purity, form, and market demand affect the final price.
Q5: What are the different types of metal strength?
There are three main types to know. Tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness. Each tells you how the metal performs. You’ll choose based on the job it needs to do.
0 Comments