Density of Steel

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Bibliographic Entry
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Topic 3.5b Stress probs 2

(determinate). University of
"The density of steel is 490 pounds per cubic foot." 7.85 g/cm3
Wisconsin-Stout Physics
Department, 20 January 1998.

Alcir Grohmann.Polystyrene "To know the area: you could weight [sic] the wire and considering that
Cutter. Ask A Scientist. Argonne the density of steel is approximately 7.8 g/cm3 having the length you can 7.8 g/cm3
National Laboratory. estimate the Area [sic]."

Materials Sorted by Category

[see table 1] 7.47–8.03 g/cm3
Then Density. Marcus Materials.

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and

Physics. 75th edition. Florida: [see table 2] 7.86–7.9 g/cm3
Chemical Rubber Co, 1994.

Scott Hawkins. Re: What is the
density of steel? MadSci
Network. 11 September 1997.
"The short answer to your question is that the density of plain mild steel is
7.85. The long answer is that depending on where you look, or the grade
of steel that you are talking about can change this value. A density of 7.88
is often quoted for mild steel as well. If you add alloying elements such as 7.75–8.05 g/cm3
tungsten, chrome or manganese to improve the steel, the density will
change. So the long answer is that the density of steel can vary between
7.75 and 8.05."

A man of steel is what every girl wants and what every guy wants to be. Steel is like air, it's everywhere: from bridges
to fridges and from washing machines to canteens. Steel is mostly composed of iron and carbon. It contains small
amounts of manganese and even smaller amounts of silicon, phosphorous, oxygen, sulfur, and other elements.
Henry Bessemer created the Bessemer process in 1856 to manufacture steel cheaply.

Density is one of the numerous properties of steel. It is calculated by dividing the mass by the volume. Steel comes in
many different forms. Their densities differ by type (see tables below).

Table 1 Table 2

Materials Sorted By Category Then Density Common Name Density (g/cm3)

Category Material Density Plain carbon steel AISI-SAE 1020 7.86

Metal Steel, tool 7.715 Stainless steel type 304 7.9

Metal Wrought Iron 7.75

Metal Carbon Tool Steel 7.82

Metal Steel, cold-drawn 7.83

Metal Carbon Steel 7.84

Metal Steel, C1020, HR 7.85

Metal Pure Iron 7.86

Metal Soft Steel (0.06% C) 7.87

 Metal Stainless Steel, 304 8.03

Metal Stainless 18Cr-8Ni 8.03

There are many uses for steel. Stainless steel, for example, is used for surgical tools and kitchen utensils. It is a type
of steel that contains low carbon levels and at least 10.5% of chromium. This results in corrosion resistance. Another
kind of steel, tool steel, is used for metal cutting tools an drill bits because it is hard, but brittle. The amount of carbon
in carbon steel determines the hardness of the steel. The more carbon it contains, the harder the steel. Carbon steel
is often used for automobile parts.

Steel and its various forms have multiple uses around the world. The nature of the steel depends on its content,
which results in varying densities. In most cases, the denser the steel, the harder it is. Hence, a man of steel is every
girl's dream.

Karen Sutherland -- 2004

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Bibliographic Entry
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Cutnell & Johnson. Physics. John Wiley &

"Iron (Steel) 7860" 7860 kg/m3
Sons, Inc. 1998 CRC Press, Florida: 308

National Physical Laboratory. Air Density "NPL's working standards and most of the weights sent to
Measurement. Teddington, Middlesex, UK. NPL for calibration are made of stainless steel (density 8000 kg/m3
2004. 8.0g cm^-3)"

"For example, 6061 aluminum weighs 0.098 pounds per

Nicol, Scot. Metallurgy for Cyclists The
cubic inch. 4130 steel weighs 0.283 lb/in3 and 3/2.5 7833 kg/m3
Basics. San Jose University.
Titanium is 0.160 lb/in3."

Parmatech Corporation. PIM Materials.

[see table below] 7600�7800 kg/m3
Petaluma, CA.

Arizona Board of Regents. Density. 2002- "The relative density of steel is 7.7 and that of mercury is
7700 kg/m3
2004. 13.6"

There are five major classifications of steels: carbon steel, alloy steel, high-strength low-alloy steel, stainless steel
and tool steel. Carbon steels are the most common, containing various amounts of carbon, produce everything from
machines to bedsprings to bobby pins. Alloy steels have definite amounts of vanadium, molybdenum, manganese,
silicon and cooper. Alloy steels produce gears, carving knives and even roller skates. Stainless steels have
chromium, nickel amongst other alloy elements which sustains their color and reaction to rust. Stainless steel
products include pipes, space capsules, surgical equipment to kitchen equipment. Last but not least, tool steels have
tungsten, molybdenum amongst other alloy elements. These elements create the strength and ability of the tool steel
products, which include parts for manufacturing operations as well as machinery.

The varying amounts of carbon, amongst other elements in each of the types of steel create a variety in densities or
specific gravities. (Specific gravity or relative density is the ratio of a material's density to that of water.)

Stainless steels are the most dense, coming in at 8000 kg/m3. Though the densities vary, the density of steel is about
7700 kg/m3. The density of steel are measured in g/cm3, kg/m3, kg/L and lb/f3, with kg/m3 being the more commonly
used measurement. A good way to remember the density of steel is to remember that titanium has about half the
density of steel and aluminum is about one-third. If you can remember that, then you know what you're doing!

Monica M. -- 2004

Typical Mechanical Properties of Parmatech PIM Alloys

Material Group Alloy* Density (g/cm3)

MIM-2200
Low Alloy & Alloy Steels (Fe-2%Ni) 7.60
as-sintered

MIM-2200
Low Alloy & Alloy Steels (Fe-2%Ni) 7.60
Heat treated**

MIM-2700
Low Alloy & Alloy Steels (Fe-7%Ni) 7.60
as-sintered

MIM-2700
Low Alloy & Alloy Steels (Fe-7%Ni) 7.60
Carbo-nitrided

Stainless Steels MIM-316L 7.80

Stainless Steels 304 L 7.75

MIM-17-4 PH
Stainless Steels 7.60
As-sintered

MIM-17-4 PH
Stainless Steels 7.60
Heat-treated (H900)

420
Stainless Steels 7.70
HIP'ed + Heat Treated

Soft Magnetic Alloys MIM-430L 7.50

Soft Magnetic Alloys MIM-Fe-3%Si 7.50

Soft Magnetic Alloys MIM-Fe-50%Ni 7.70

Kovar
Controlled Expansion Alloy 8.0
(F-15 Alloy)

Other Alloys Pyromet 718 NA