As a designer, evaluating the different metal strengths is a must-have skill when evaluating materials for selection. Among them, metal is one of the most commonly used materials in projects, and the classification of its strength is one of the most important mechanical properties necessary to classify the application and use of metals. Maybe some metals are suitable for the construction industry, some metals are suitable for the aerospace industry, some metals are fitted with the machinery manufacturing industry, and so on. At the same time, it is a key determining factor for designers, manufacturers, and engineers to ensure the functionality and practicality of the chosen metal and its fit to the project.
So how to choose the suitable metal according to the project to ensure that its strength matches the needs of the project? Today, we will introduce you to different metal strengths and how to choose the right metal for your project to make your design will be more perfect!
What is the strength of metals?
Metal strength can be divided into compressive strength, tensile strength, and impact strength according to different indicators. In this section, we’ll explain to you what these three intensities mean.
Compressive Strength
As the name implies, compressive strength refers to the maximum amount of pressure and compression a metal can withstand without damage. To test the compressive strength of metals, you need a universal testing machine. By using this machine, pressure is gradually applied to the metal until it begins to deform. The starting point at which metals begin to deform is the compressive strength of the metal.
Tensile Strength
Tensile strength refers to the maximum bearing capacity of a metal under static tension conditions. In other words, the maximum amount of tension, or elongation, that a metal can withstand without ever breaking. Beyond this maximum load-bearing capacity, the deformation of the metal is permanent and irreversible. Under Tensile Strength, we can again divide this into three parts:
- Yield Strength: This is the strength a metal can withstand without undergoing permanent deformation. It can also be said to be the maximum strength that the part can bear before plastic deformation.
- Break Strength: This is the stress coordinate on the stress-strain curve at the breakpoint.
- Ultimate Strength: The maximum tensile, compressive, or shear stress that a specific unit area of metal can withstand without cracking or deforming. In other words, it is the maximum stress a metal can withstand.
Impact Strength
Impact strength is a measure of the amount of energy a metal can absorb before it breaks, tears, or becomes damaged. So if your project calls for metal, and you need to know how much energy it can absorb, then you should perform an impact strength test.
Usually, there is a misunderstanding for most people: high impact strength is equivalent to high material hardness. But unfortunately, this is not always true, and perhaps it can be understood in some cases.
This is because the impact strength of a material is affected by factors such as temperature (increase in temperature increases impact strength), material thickness (increase in thickness decreases impact strength), and notch radius (decrease in notch radius decreases impact strength).
Different Metal Strength Chart for References
It is well known that different metals have different metallic strengths. Therefore, we have sorted out some common metal strengths here to help you quickly find the strength of the metal you want under different indicators.
| Types of Metals | Tensile Strength(PSI) | Yield Strength(PSI) | Hardness Rockwell (B-Scale) | Density(kg/m³) |
| Stainless Steel 304 | 90,000 | 40,000 | 88 | 8000 |
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | 45,000 | 40,000 | 60 | 2720 |
| Aluminum 5052-H32 | 33,000 | 28,000 | 2680 | |
| Aluminum 3003 | 22,000 | 21,000 | 20 to 25 | 2730 |
| Steel A36 | 58-80,000 | 36,000 | 7800 | |
| Steel Grade 50 | 65,000 | 50,000 | 7800 | |
| Yellow Brass | 40,000 | 55 | 8470 | |
| Red Brass | 49,000 | 65 | 8746 | |
| Copper | 28,000 | 10 | 8940 | |
| Phosphor Bronze | 55,000 | 78 | 8900 | |
| Aluminum Bronze | 27,000 | 77 | 7700-8700 | |
| Titanium | 63,000 | 37,000 | 80 | 4500 |
How to choose a suitable metal for your project?
Next, we’ll explore how to choose the right metal for your project.
First of all, you need to know that machining is not just about getting any available metal, but getting the right metal. Therefore, when we choose metal materials, we need to refer to the metal strength to choose the metal suitable for our project. Because it determines whether your machine parts can effectively achieve the desired purpose. For example, if you use a low-strength metal instead of the high-strength metal needed in your project, the part structure may be distorted. This is why one type of metal does not fit all projects.
For example, parts required for heavy machinery require high-strength metals. In this case, steel or titanium are usually the best choices for the project. In general, steel, titanium, tungsten, and Inconel are considered the strongest metals. Therefore, they can be used where high-strength metals are required. In addition, you need to know that using low-strength metals in the parts for hoisting cranes will injure the integrity of the component. Therefore, high-strength metal is also the most suitable choice for it.
Conclusion:
It is not an easy task to consider and choose the suitable metal for your project, but you can refer to the metal strength table we listed for you, and then choose the suitable metal material according to the characteristics, functions, and uses of your project. Of course, if you find this complicated, you can contact CNCMass, they have extensive experience in metalworking and can always provide professional advice for your project.
