Steel 50W470 vs Silicon Steel
Steel · grade comparison
Steel 50W470 and Silicon Steel are both steel grades, both electrical steel. Both yield at about 310 MPa — strength does not separate them. 50W470 is the more ductile: elongation 30% versus 20% for Silicon Steel, and Silicon Steel is harder (170 HB vs 152 HB). Silicon Steel is stiffer (200 GPa vs 190 GPa) and Silicon Steel runs hotter in service (200°C vs 180°C continuous). On the shop floor, 50W470 welds better (good vs fair) and 50W470 sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than Silicon Steel (premium, $$$).
50W470Choose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when it will be welded.
Silicon SteelChoose it when the part sees heat.
50W470 vs Silicon Steel: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel 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 steel 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, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Same in both: Liquidus Temperature 1,520°C2,768 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Same in both: Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 12 µm/m·K6.7 µin/in·°F · Min Service Temperature -60°C-76 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Brazeability / Solderability
Same in both: Polishability 50 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Same in both: Embodied Carbon (primary production) 2.3 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 25%
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 steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | 50W470 | Silicon Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | Final Annealed | Annealed |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$$ Premium |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Both are offered for Sheet metal. Both take the same 22 finishes: Black Oxide, Cerakote, Chrome Plating, Copper Plating, E-Coating, Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Hot-Dip Galvanizing, Manganese Phosphate, Nickel Plating and 10 more.
50W470 vs Silicon Steel — frequently asked
What is the difference between 50W470 and Silicon Steel?
Steel 50W470 and Silicon Steel are both steel grades, both electrical steel. Both yield at about 310 MPa — strength does not separate them. 50W470 is the more ductile: elongation 30% versus 20% for Silicon Steel, and Silicon Steel is harder (170 HB vs 152 HB).
Which is cheaper, 50W470 or Silicon Steel?
50W470 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while Silicon Steel is premium ($$$). 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, 50W470 or Silicon Steel?
50W470, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 45/100 against 38/100 for Silicon Steel; for welding the order is 50W470 first (good, 55/100) then Silicon Steel (fair, 45/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 50W470 and Silicon Steel 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.