FabDigit

Steel P1 vs P2 vs P21 vs P3

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 steel grades.

P1 vs P2 and 2 more: properties

P1P2P21P3

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Bulk Modulus

160 GPa23.2 Msi
160 GPa23.2 Msi
163 GPa23.6 Msi
160 GPa23.2 Msi

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

380 MPa55.1 ksi
510 MPa74 ksi
1,300 MPa189 ksi
540 MPa78.3 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

240 MPa34.8 ksi
330 MPa47.9 ksi
1,150 MPa167 ksi
340 MPa49.3 ksi

Elongation at Break

35%
27%
14%
28%

Reduction in Area

62%
58%
50%
60%

Compressive Strength

250 MPa36.3 ksi
340 MPa49.3 ksi
1,250 MPa181 ksi
345 MPa50 ksi

Shear Strength

260 MPa37.7 ksi
330 MPa47.9 ksi
790 MPa115 ksi
350 MPa50.8 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

180 MPa26.1 ksi
230 MPa33.4 ksi
570 MPa82.7 ksi
250 MPa36.3 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

120 MPa·√m109 ksi·√in
100 MPa·√m91 ksi·√in
80 MPa·√m72.8 ksi·√in
110 MPa·√m100 ksi·√in

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

120 J88.5 ft·lbf
110 J81.1 ft·lbf
25 J18.4 ft·lbf
110 J81.1 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell

120 HB
110 HB
375 HB
160 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

68 HRB
63 HRB
84 HRB

Hardness, Vickers

125 HV
115 HV
400 HV

Hardness, Rockwell C

40 HRC

Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 205 GPa29.7 Msi · Shear Modulus 80 GPa11.6 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

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

Melting Point (Solidus)

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

Liquidus Temperature

1,510°C2,750 °F
1,500°C2,732 °F
1,490°C2,714 °F
1,500°C2,732 °F

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

50 W/m·K28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F
40 W/m·K23.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F
33 W/m·K19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F
40 W/m·K23.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

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

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

12 µm/m·K6.7 µin/in·°F
12.4 µm/m·K6.9 µin/in·°F
12.4 µm/m·K6.9 µin/in·°F
11.9 µm/m·K6.6 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

270 J/g116 BTU/lb
250 J/g107 BTU/lb
270 J/g116 BTU/lb
270 J/g116 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

350°C662 °F
400°C752 °F
450°C842 °F
400°C752 °F

Min Service Temperature

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

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

11 % IACS
8.5 % IACS
4.9 % IACS
8.5 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

1.6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.3 µΩ·in
2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m7.87 µΩ·in
3.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m13.8 µΩ·in
2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m7.87 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

-0.61 V
-0.61 V
-0.6 V
-0.6 V

Corrosion Resistance

10 / 100
12 / 100
16 / 100
12 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

60 / 100
70 / 100
45 / 100
62 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

65%
65%
45%
65%

Weldability

85 / 100
60 / 100
55 / 100
65 / 100

Formability (cold)

90 / 100
70 / 100
15 / 100
70 / 100

Castability

40 / 100
35 / 100
35 / 100
35 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

75 / 100
55 / 100
40 / 100
55 / 100

Polishability

55 / 100
75 / 100
90 / 100
50 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

25 MJ/kg10,748 BTU/lb
34 MJ/kg14,617 BTU/lb
34 MJ/kg14,617 BTU/lb
30 MJ/kg12,898 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

1.9 kg CO₂/kg
2.4 kg CO₂/kg
2.4 kg CO₂/kg
2.2 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

45 L/kg5.4 gal/lb
60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
50 L/kg6 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

30%
35%
30%
30%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

48 kN·m/kg
65 kN·m/kg
166 kN·m/kg
69 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

26.1 MN·m/kg
26.1 MN·m/kg
26.2 MN·m/kg
26.1 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

140 kJ/m³
266 kJ/m³
3,226 kJ/m³
282 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

13.6 mm²/s
11.1 mm²/s
9.2 mm²/s
11.1 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

8
8
17
9

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 scaleP1P2P21P3

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityP1P2P21P3
Default condition
Relative cost$$ Standard$$$ Premium$$$ Premium$$ 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 P1 and P2 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.