Quartzite vs Slate
Natural Material · grade comparison
Quartzite and Slate are both natural material grades. Quartzite is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) against 16 MPa (2.32 ksi) for Slate, about 6% more. Quartzite is lighter (2.65 g/cm³ vs 2.8 g/cm³ for Slate) and Quartzite is stiffer (75 GPa vs 65 GPa). On the shop floor, Slate machines more easily (good vs not recommended) and Slate sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Quartzite (standard, $$).
QuartziteChoose it when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint.
SlateChoose it when the part sees heat, or when the part is machined in volume.
Quartzite vs Slate: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material 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 natural material 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
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Hardness, Knoop
Hardness, Mohs
Elongation at Break
Same in both: Bulk Modulus 40 GPa5.8 Msi · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 1.1 MPa·√m1 ksi·√in
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
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
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
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Specific Strength (UTS / density) 6 kN·m/kg · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Quartzite | Slate |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Quartzite vs Slate — frequently asked
Is Quartzite stronger than Slate?
Yes. Quartzite has a typical tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) against 16 MPa (2.32 ksi) for Slate — about 6% more.
Which is cheaper, Quartzite or Slate?
Slate is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Quartzite is standard ($$). 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, Quartzite or Slate?
Slate. Its machinability rates good (55/100) against not recommended (7/100) for Quartzite.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Quartzite and Slate 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.