FabDigit

Steel HC300LA vs SPHD vs DC03 vs DC05

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 steel grades.

HC300LA vs SPHD and 2 more: properties

HC300LASPHDDC03DC05

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

210 GPa30.5 Msi
205 GPa29.7 Msi
210 GPa30.5 Msi
210 GPa30.5 Msi

Shear Modulus

81 GPa11.7 Msi
80 GPa11.6 Msi
80 GPa11.6 Msi
81 GPa11.7 Msi

Bulk Modulus

166 GPa24.1 Msi
160 GPa23.2 Msi
160 GPa23.2 Msi
160 GPa23.2 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.3
0.29
0.29
0.29

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

420 MPa60.9 ksi
320 MPa46.4 ksi
310 MPa45 ksi
300 MPa43.5 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

335 MPa48.6 ksi
230 MPa33.4 ksi
195 MPa28.3 ksi
160 MPa23.2 ksi

Elongation at Break

28%
37%
38%
42%

Shear Strength

300 MPa43.5 ksi
205 MPa29.7 ksi
230 MPa33.4 ksi
225 MPa32.6 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

215 MPa31.2 ksi
155 MPa22.5 ksi
145 MPa21 ksi
150 MPa21.8 ksi

Hardness, Brinell

130 HB
100 HB
95 HB
85 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

78 HRB
55 HRB
55 HRB
42 HRB

Hardness, Vickers

138 HV
105 HV
100 HV
90 HV

Reduction in Area

65%
65%
70%

Compressive Strength

230 MPa33.4 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

100 MPa·√m91 ksi·√in
140 MPa·√m127 ksi·√in

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

55 J40.6 ft·lbf
80 J59 ft·lbf

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,495°C2,723 °F
1,495°C2,723 °F
1,490°C2,714 °F
1,480°C2,696 °F

Liquidus Temperature

1,520°C2,768 °F
1,530°C2,786 °F
1,525°C2,777 °F
1,525°C2,777 °F

Same in both: Density 7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³

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
54 W/m·K31.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F
55 W/m·K31.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

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

Latent Heat of Fusion

250 J/g107 BTU/lb
247 J/g106 BTU/lb
247 J/g106 BTU/lb
247 J/g106 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

300°C572 °F
350°C662 °F
350°C662 °F
300°C572 °F

Min Service Temperature

-40°C-40 °F
-20°C-4 °F
-30°C-22 °F
-40°C-40 °F

Same in both: Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 12 µm/m·K6.7 µin/in·°F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

10 % IACS
10.8 % IACS
11 % IACS
11.5 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

1.8×10⁻⁷ Ω·m7.09 µΩ·in
1.6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.3 µΩ·in
1.6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.3 µΩ·in
1.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m5.91 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

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

Same in both: Corrosion Resistance 10 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

55 / 100
55 / 100
50 / 100
55 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

60%
55%
55%
55%

Weldability

88 / 100
92 / 100
95 / 100
95 / 100

Formability (cold)

68 / 100
90 / 100
88 / 100
97 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

60 / 100
70 / 100
70 / 100
70 / 100

Polishability

45 / 100
40 / 100
50 / 100
60 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

25 MJ/kg10,748 BTU/lb
25 MJ/kg10,748 BTU/lb
28 MJ/kg12,038 BTU/lb
29 MJ/kg12,468 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

2.1 kg CO₂/kg
2.2 kg CO₂/kg
2.3 kg CO₂/kg
2.4 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

40 L/kg4.8 gal/lb
40 L/kg4.8 gal/lb
40 L/kg4.8 gal/lb
35 L/kg4.2 gal/lb

Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 25%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

54 kN·m/kg
41 kN·m/kg
39 kN·m/kg
38 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

26.8 MN·m/kg
26.1 MN·m/kg
26.8 MN·m/kg
26.8 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

267 kJ/m³
129 kJ/m³
91 kJ/m³
61 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

13 mm²/s
13.5 mm²/s
14.6 mm²/s
14.9 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

8
7
7
7

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 scaleSPHDDC03DC05HC300LA

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityHC300LASPHDDC03DC05
Sheet metalYes
Default conditionHR
Relative cost$ Budget$ Budget$ Budget$ Budget
Min. machined wall
Best machined surface
Black OxideYes
CerakoteYes
Chrome PlatingYes
E-CoatingYes
Hot-Dip GalvanizingYes
Nickel PlatingYes
PTFE CoatingYes
PaintingYes
Powder CoatingYes
Tin PlatingYes
Zinc PlatingYes
Zinc-Flake (Dip-Spin) CoatingYes
Zinc-Nickel PlatingYes

They share 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 HC300LA and SPHD 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.