ASTM A387 Grade 11 Steel vs. Reactor Grade Zirconium

ASTM A387 grade 11 steel belongs to the iron alloys classification, while reactor grade zirconium belongs to the otherwise unclassified metals. There are 20 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (12, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is ASTM A387 grade 11 steel and the bottom bar is reactor grade zirconium.

ASTM A387 Grade 11 (K11789) 1.25Cr-0.5Mo Steel Reactor Grade (R60001) Zirconium

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		190
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		98

Elongation at Break, %		25
Elongation at Break, %		21

Poisson's Ratio		0.29
Poisson's Ratio		0.34

Shear Modulus, GPa		73
Shear Modulus, GPa		37

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		500 to 600
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		330

Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof), MPa		270 to 350
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof), MPa		160

Thermal Properties

Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g		260
Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g		250

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		470
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		270

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		39
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		22

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		13
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		5.9

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		7.8
Density, g/cm³		6.5

Embodied Water, L/kg		53
Embodied Water, L/kg		280

Common Calculations

Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work), MJ/m³		100 to 130
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work), MJ/m³		56

Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience), kJ/m³		200 to 320
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience), kJ/m³		130

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		13
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		8.4

Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		24
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		24

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		18 to 21
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		14

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		18 to 20
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		16

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		11
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		13

Thermal Shock Resistance, points		15 to 18
Thermal Shock Resistance, points		41

Alloy Composition

Carbon (C), %		0.050 to 0.17
Carbon (C), %		0

Chromium (Cr), %		1.0 to 1.5
Chromium (Cr), %		0

Iron (Fe), %		96.2 to 97.6
Iron (Fe), %		0

Manganese (Mn), %		0.4 to 0.65
Manganese (Mn), %		0

Molybdenum (Mo), %		0.45 to 0.65
Molybdenum (Mo), %		0

Phosphorus (P), %		0 to 0.025
Phosphorus (P), %		0

Silicon (Si), %		0.5 to 0.8
Silicon (Si), %		0

Sulfur (S), %		0 to 0.025
Sulfur (S), %		0

Zirconium (Zr), %		0
Zirconium (Zr), %		99.7 to 100

Residuals, %		0
Residuals, %		0 to 0.27