Aluminum Nitride vs PC40
Ceramic · grade comparison
Aluminum Nitride and PC40 are both ceramic grades. Aluminum Nitride is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 200 MPa (29 ksi) against 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) for PC40, about 6.7 times as much. Aluminum Nitride is harder — 1,100 HV against 600 HV for PC40 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Aluminum Nitride is lighter (3.29 g/cm³ vs 4.8 g/cm³ for PC40) and Aluminum Nitride is stiffer (320 GPa vs 150 GPa). On the shop floor, PC40 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Aluminum Nitride (high, $$$$).
Aluminum NitrideChoose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
PC40Choose it when cost is the deciding factor.
Aluminum Nitride vs PC40: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all ceramic grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all ceramic grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Vickers
Hardness, Knoop
Hardness, Mohs
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Refractive Index
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)
Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)
Volume Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sintering / Firing Temperature
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
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.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Aluminum Nitride | PC40 |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$$ High | $$$ Premium |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Aluminum Nitride vs PC40 — frequently asked
Is Aluminum Nitride stronger than PC40?
Yes. Aluminum Nitride has a typical tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) against 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) for PC40 — about 6.7 times as much.
Which is cheaper, Aluminum Nitride or PC40?
PC40 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while Aluminum Nitride is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Aluminum Nitride or PC40?
PC40, by a small margin. Both rate not recommended for machinability — 12/100 against 5/100 for Aluminum Nitride.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Aluminum Nitride and PC40 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.