FabDigit

Wollastonite vs Steatite and 2 more: properties

WollastoniteSteatiteCordieriteZircon

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

110 GPa16 Msi
100 GPa14.5 Msi
70 GPa10.2 Msi
190 GPa27.6 Msi

Shear Modulus

40 GPa5.8 Msi
40 GPa5.8 Msi
28 GPa4.1 Msi
78 GPa11.3 Msi

Bulk Modulus

87 GPa12.6 Msi
67 GPa9.7 Msi
47 GPa6.8 Msi
150 GPa21.8 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.29
0.25
0.25
0.25

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

350 MPa50.8 ksi
60 MPa8.7 ksi
25 MPa3.6 ksi
80 MPa11.6 ksi

Elongation at Break

0.1%
0%

Compressive Strength

240 MPa34.8 ksi
700 MPa102 ksi
350 MPa50.8 ksi
1,200 MPa174 ksi

Flexural Strength

60 MPa8.7 ksi
130 MPa18.9 ksi
70 MPa10.2 ksi
180 MPa26.1 ksi

Shear Strength

45 MPa6.5 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

1.2 MPa·√m1.1 ksi·√in
1.5 MPa·√m1.4 ksi·√in
1.5 MPa·√m1.4 ksi·√in
2.5 MPa·√m2.3 ksi·√in

Hardness, Vickers

380 HV
650 HV
700 HV
1,150 HV

Hardness, Mohs

4.5
7
7
7.5

Hardness, Knoop

600 HK
1,100 HK

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

2.87 g/cm³0.1 lb/in³
2.8 g/cm³0.1 lb/in³
2.3 g/cm³0.08 lb/in³
3.7 g/cm³0.13 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,540°C2,804 °F
1,450°C2,642 °F
1,465°C2,669 °F
1,687°C3,069 °F

Refractive Index

1.63
1.95

Porosity

0%
8%
0.2%

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

2.5 W/m·K1.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F
2.5 W/m·K1.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F
2.5 W/m·K1.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F
4.5 W/m·K2.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

750 J/kg·K0.18 BTU/lb·°F
800 J/kg·K0.19 BTU/lb·°F
800 J/kg·K0.19 BTU/lb·°F
560 J/kg·K0.13 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

6.5 µm/m·K3.6 µin/in·°F
8 µm/m·K4.4 µin/in·°F
2 µm/m·K1.1 µin/in·°F
4.2 µm/m·K2.3 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

1,000°C1,832 °F
1,000°C1,832 °F
1,250°C2,282 °F
1,500°C2,732 °F

Same in both: Min Service Temperature -200°C-328 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Resistivity

1×10¹¹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁸ µΩ·in
1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in
1×10¹¹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁸ µΩ·in
1×10¹¹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁸ µΩ·in

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)

6.5
6
5
9

Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)

8×10⁻⁴
0.0012
0.004
0.001

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹³ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm
1×10¹³ Ω·cm
1×10¹³ Ω·cm

Dielectric Strength

12 kV/mm305 V/mil
10 kV/mm254 V/mil
12 kV/mm305 V/mil

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

40 / 100
85 / 100
70 / 100
88 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

45 / 100
8 / 100
20 / 100
5 / 100

Polishability

60 / 100
35 / 100
80 / 100

Sintering / Firing Temperature

1,300°C2,372 °F
1,350°C2,462 °F
1,600°C2,912 °F

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

2 MJ/kg688 BTU/lb
27 MJ/kg11,608 BTU/lb
30 MJ/kg12,898 BTU/lb
40 MJ/kg17,197 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

0.12 kg CO₂/kg
1.9 kg CO₂/kg
2.2 kg CO₂/kg
3 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

12 L/kg1.4 gal/lb
45 L/kg5.4 gal/lb
20 L/kg2.4 gal/lb
30 L/kg3.6 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

0%
2%
5%
3%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

122 kN·m/kg
21 kN·m/kg
11 kN·m/kg
22 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

38.3 MN·m/kg
35.7 MN·m/kg
30.4 MN·m/kg
51.4 MN·m/kg

Thermal Diffusivity

1.2 mm²/s
1.1 mm²/s
1.4 mm²/s
2.2 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

1
0
0
0

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

501002005001,000234567Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleSteatiteCordierite

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityWollastoniteSteatiteCordieriteZircon
Default condition
Relative cost$ Budget$$$$ High$$$$ High$$ Standard
Min. machined wall
Best machined surface

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Wollastonite and Steatite side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.