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Steel 45L vs A216 WCA vs A216 WCC vs A352 LCC

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 steel grades.

45L vs A216 WCA and 2 more: properties

45LA216 WCAA216 WCCA352 LCC

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

205 GPa29.7 Msi
200 GPa29 Msi
202 GPa29.3 Msi
202 GPa29.3 Msi

Shear Modulus

80 GPa11.6 Msi
78 GPa11.3 Msi
78 GPa11.3 Msi
79 GPa11.5 Msi

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

600 MPa87 ksi
455 MPa66 ksi
520 MPa75.4 ksi
525 MPa76.1 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

330 MPa47.9 ksi
255 MPa37 ksi
315 MPa45.7 ksi
315 MPa45.7 ksi

Elongation at Break

12%
31%
25%
26%

Reduction in Area

22%
50%
42%
45%

Compressive Strength

330 MPa47.9 ksi
255 MPa37 ksi
315 MPa45.7 ksi
320 MPa46.4 ksi

Shear Strength

360 MPa52.2 ksi
285 MPa41.3 ksi
340 MPa49.3 ksi
380 MPa55.1 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

245 MPa35.5 ksi
200 MPa29 ksi
230 MPa33.4 ksi
230 MPa33.4 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

50 MPa·√m45.5 ksi·√in
90 MPa·√m81.9 ksi·√in
80 MPa·√m72.8 ksi·√in
100 MPa·√m91 ksi·√in

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

20 J14.8 ft·lbf
48 J35.4 ft·lbf
42 J31 ft·lbf
60 J44.3 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell

207 HB
130 HB
170 HB
155 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

94 HRB
72 HRB
87 HRB
84 HRB

Hardness, Vickers

218 HV
—
—
—

Same in both: Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

7.83 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
7.83 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
7.83 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,420°C2,588 °F
1,425°C2,597 °F
1,425°C2,597 °F
1,425°C2,597 °F

Liquidus Temperature

1,490°C2,714 °F
1,510°C2,750 °F
1,505°C2,741 °F
1,505°C2,741 °F

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

48 W/m·K27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F
51 W/m·K29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F
50 W/m·K28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F
50 W/m·K28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
486 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

11.9 µm/m·K6.6 µin/in·°F
11.7 µm/m·K6.5 µin/in·°F
12.2 µm/m·K6.8 µin/in·°F
11.9 µm/m·K6.6 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

270 J/g116 BTU/lb
247 J/g106 BTU/lb
270 J/g116 BTU/lb
270 J/g116 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

400°C752 °F
425°C797 °F
425°C797 °F
425°C797 °F

Min Service Temperature

-30°C-22 °F
-29°C-20 °F
-29°C-20 °F
-46°C-51 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

8.5 % IACS
10 % IACS
10 % IACS
10 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m7.87 µΩ·in
1.7×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.69 µΩ·in
1.7×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.69 µΩ·in
1.7×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.69 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

-0.61 V
-0.65 V
-0.65 V
-0.62 V

Corrosion Resistance

11 / 100
10 / 100
12 / 100
12 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

55 / 100
68 / 100
60 / 100
63 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

55%
70%
60%
72%

Weldability

30 / 100
85 / 100
85 / 100
80 / 100

Formability (cold)

15 / 100
20 / 100
20 / 100
20 / 100

Castability

70 / 100
72 / 100
70 / 100
75 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

55 / 100
55 / 100
60 / 100
60 / 100

Polishability

55 / 100
40 / 100
55 / 100
45 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

25 MJ/kg10,748 BTU/lb
26 MJ/kg11,178 BTU/lb
28 MJ/kg12,038 BTU/lb
24 MJ/kg10,318 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

2 kg CO₂/kg
2.1 kg CO₂/kg
2.1 kg CO₂/kg
1.9 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

35 L/kg4.2 gal/lb
45 L/kg5.4 gal/lb
55 L/kg6.6 gal/lb
45 L/kg5.4 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

80%
85%
85%
85%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

77 kN·m/kg
58 kN·m/kg
66 kN·m/kg
67 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

26.2 MN·m/kg
25.5 MN·m/kg
25.8 MN·m/kg
25.7 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

266 kJ/m³
163 kJ/m³
246 kJ/m³
246 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

13 mm²/s
13.9 mm²/s
13.6 mm²/s
13.1 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

12
10
11
11

Strength versus weight

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

2005001,0002,0007.588.5Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleA216 WCAA216 WCCA352 LCC45L

Manufacturing and finishing

Capability45LA216 WCAA216 WCCA352 LCC
Default condition————
Relative cost$ Budget$$ Standard$$ Standard$$ Standard
Min. machined wall————
Best machined surface————

Both take the same 9 finishes: Copper Plating, Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Manganese Phosphate, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating, Zinc Phosphate.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 45L and A216 WCA 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.