To put steel's performance into perspective, here is how it stacks up against other popular metals: Thermal Conductivity ( Relative Performance Highest (The Gold Standard) Pure Copper Excellent (Electrical/Heat Sinks) Pure Aluminum Good (Lightweight Heat Sinks) Brass Cast Iron Comparable to Carbon Steel Carbon Steel Fair Stainless Steel Low Key Takeaway for Your Project
The thermal conductivity of steel varies significantly depending on its composition, but a standard value for is approximately . Thermal Conductivity Of Metals List Steel
Avoid stainless steel; go with carbon steel or, better yet, aluminum or copper. To put steel's performance into perspective, here is
Stainless steel is a relatively . The high Chromium and Nickel content creates a "bottleneck" for heat transfer, which is why stainless steel cookware often has a copper or aluminum core. Galvanized Steel: The high Chromium and Nickel content creates a
Designed for hardness and heat resistance, these alloys often trade off some conductivity.
Similar to carbon steel, though the zinc coating itself has a conductivity of about Comparison with Other Common Metals
