Material Selector

Input your requirements — strength, corrosion resistance, weight, and application — to get recommended alloys.

Finder

How to Use

1
Define Your Application Requirements
Specify operating temperature range, required mechanical properties (tensile strength, hardness), and environmental exposure conditions such as corrosive media or UV exposure.
2
Apply Filters to Narrow Candidates
Use the material selector's filter sliders to set minimum yield strength, maximum density, and other critical constraints, reducing thousands of alloys to a manageable shortlist.
3
Compare and Download Results
Review the filtered candidates side-by-side on the comparison table, then export your shortlist as a CSV for further analysis or supplier sourcing.

About

Material selection is one of the most consequential decisions in engineering design, influencing part performance, manufacturing cost, and long-term reliability. The traditional approach — consulting thick handbooks such as ASM's Metals Handbook or Matweb — has been augmented by computational tools that allow engineers to filter thousands of alloy grades against simultaneous property constraints within seconds. A robust material selector uses normalized performance indices derived from Michael Ashby's materials selection methodology, enabling multi-objective optimization such as maximizing stiffness-to-weight while minimizing thermal expansion.

The selector on AlloyFYI draws from a curated database spanning carbon and alloy steels, stainless steels, tool steels, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, nickel superalloys, titanium alloys, magnesium alloys, and engineering polymers and composites for comparison context. Properties are sourced from ASTM, SAE, and ISO standards, with typical, minimum, and maximum values where available. Temperature-dependent data for yield strength and elastic modulus is provided for critical alloys used in elevated-temperature service. Whether you are designing a structural bracket, a heat exchanger tube, or a surgical implant, systematic material selection ensures your chosen alloy meets every requirement the first time.

FAQ

How do I choose between aluminum and titanium alloys for aerospace components?

Aluminum alloys offer a superior strength-to-weight ratio at lower cost and are easier to machine, making them the default choice for airframes and skin panels. Titanium alloys are preferred when service temperatures exceed 150°C, when corrosion resistance in salt environments is critical, or when fatigue life in high-cycle applications is paramount. Ti-6Al-4V is the workhorse titanium grade, while 7075-T6 and 2024-T3 represent the aluminum equivalents. Always cross-check specific strength (σ/ρ) and check that the alloy is certified under applicable aerospace standards such as AMS or MMPDS.

What is the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous alloys?

Ferrous alloys contain iron as the primary element and include carbon steels, stainless steels, and cast irons. They are generally stronger and less expensive but are susceptible to corrosion without surface treatment. Non-ferrous alloys — such as aluminum, copper, nickel, and titanium alloys — offer advantages including corrosion resistance, lower density, non-magnetic behavior, and better electrical conductivity. The choice depends on the specific balance of mechanical, thermal, electrical, and chemical properties required for the application.

How does heat treatment affect alloy selection?

Heat treatment can dramatically alter mechanical properties. Precipitation-hardenable alloys like 6061-T6 aluminum or 17-4 PH stainless steel derive their strength from controlled aging cycles that form fine precipitates within the matrix. Quench-and-temper steels achieve high hardness by forming martensite then reducing brittleness through tempering. Understanding whether a desired alloy can be heat-treated to meet your property targets — and whether your manufacturing facility can perform those treatments — is essential to practical material selection.

What role does cost play in material selection decisions?

Raw material cost is only one component of total cost; machining time, scrap rate, surface finishing, joining complexity, and inspection requirements all contribute. A cheaper alloy that requires extensive machining or generates high scrap may be more expensive in finished-part cost than a premium alloy with near-net-shape casting capability. Life-cycle cost also matters: a corrosion-resistant alloy eliminating annual coating maintenance may yield lower total cost of ownership over a 20-year service life despite higher upfront material cost.

Can this tool help me find REACH- and RoHS-compliant materials?

Yes. The material selector includes compliance filters for EU REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), RoHS restricted substances (including lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and cadmium), and California Proposition 65 listings. Enabling these filters automatically excludes alloys whose composition includes restricted substances above threshold concentrations, streamlining the compliance documentation process for products sold in regulated markets.

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