Cordierite vs. Silicon Nitride

Cordierite belongs to the oxide-based engineering ceramics classification, while silicon nitride belongs to the non-oxide engineering ceramics. There are 16 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (5, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is cordierite and the bottom bar is silicon nitride.

Cordierite Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Compressive (Crushing) Strength, MPa		420
Compressive (Crushing) Strength, MPa		600 to 2950

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		62
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		140 to 310

Flexural Strength, MPa		17 to 32
Flexural Strength, MPa		130 to 810

Fracture Toughness, MPa-m^1/2		2.0
Fracture Toughness, MPa-m^1/2		3.1 to 6.2

Thermal Properties

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		1150
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		1000 to 1330

Maximum Thermal Shock, °C		290 to 390
Maximum Thermal Shock, °C		290 to 750

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		800 to 850
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		720 to 800

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		1.3 to 1.7
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		12 to 31

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		2.9 to 4.8
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		2.5 to 3.2

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 MHz		4.7
Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 MHz		8.0 to 10

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		7.7
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		18

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		9.5
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		11 to 12

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		2.0 to 2.2
Density, g/cm³		2.2 to 3.4

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		15 to 17
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		34 to 53

Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		59 to 67
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		65 to 78

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.74 to 1.0
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		7.5 to 13