Precious Metal Britannia Silver (958) vs S990
Precious Metal · grade comparison
Precious Metal Britannia Silver (958) and S990 are both precious metal grades. Britannia Silver (958) is the stronger of the two: yield strength 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) against 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) for S990, about 20% more; tensile strength follows at 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) vs 150 MPa (21.8 ksi). Britannia Silver (958) is harder — 47 HB against 30 HB for S990 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. S990 runs hotter in service (400°C vs 200°C continuous). On the shop floor, Britannia Silver (958) welds better (very good vs good).
Britannia Silver (958)Choose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
S990Choose it when the part sees heat.
Britannia Silver (958) vs S990: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all precious metal 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 precious metal 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
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Vickers
Reduction in Area
Same in both: Bulk Modulus 101 GPa14.6 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.37
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
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)
Same in both: Latent Heat of Fusion 105 J/g45.1 BTU/lb · Min Service Temperature -200°C-328 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Castability
Polishability
Same in both: Formability (cold) 98 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 95 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 1,500 MJ/kg644,885 BTU/lb
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every precious metal grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Britannia Silver (958) | S990 |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$$ High | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Britannia Silver (958) vs S990 — frequently asked
Is Britannia Silver (958) stronger than S990?
Yes. Britannia Silver (958) has a typical yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) against 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) for S990 — about 20% more. Tensile strength is 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) vs 150 MPa (21.8 ksi).
Which is cheaper, Britannia Silver (958) or S990?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$$$, high); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
Which is easier to machine, Britannia Silver (958) or S990?
S990, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 50/100 against 45/100 for Britannia Silver (958); for welding the order is Britannia Silver (958) first (very good, 70/100) then S990 (good, 60/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Britannia Silver (958) and S990 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.