Specific Heat Capacity of Metals
Material Properties for Thermal Design (Iron, Steel, Aluminum...)
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Specific heat capacity (\(c_p\)) is a fundamental thermodynamic property defining the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree.
⚠️ ENGINEERING NOTICE & EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: This interactive calculator is provided exclusively for preliminary estimation. It is not intended for detailed design or procurement. No warranty is provided.
Calculated Heat Energy (Q): - kJ
Formula: \(Q = m \cdot c_p \cdot \Delta T\)
Formula: \(Q = m \cdot c_p \cdot \Delta T\)
Heat Calculation Theory
The heat energy required is calculated using the following equation:
\[ Q = m \cdot c_p \cdot \Delta T \]Where:
- \(Q\) = Heat energy (Joules, J)
- \(m\) = Mass of the metal (kg)
- \(c_p\) = Specific heat capacity (\(J/kg\cdot K\))
- \(\Delta T\) = Temperature change (\(K\) or \(^\circ C\))
Industrial Rules of Thumb
- Safety Margins: For heating element sizing, it is common to add a 15-20% margin to the theoretical \(Q\) to account for vessel wall losses and convection.
- Temperature Dependency: Specific heat increases with temperature. For high-temperature design (>300°C), use the integrated average \(c_p\) across the range.
- Quenching: When quenching metals, ensure the coolant volume is sufficient so the \(\Delta T\) of the fluid does not exceed design limits of the heat exchanger.
1. Data table of specific heat capacity of common metals
Please find below a table of common metals aggregated from various industrial sources. Note that values may vary based on exact alloy composition and temperature.
| Metal | Description | \(c_p\) [J/(kg·K)] |
|---|---|---|
| AlBeMet | Specific heat capacity of AlBeMet | 1507.2 |
| Aluminium | Common structural alloy | 887 |
| Aluminum | High purity source 2 | 921.1 |
| Antimony | Elemental Antimony | 209.3 |
| Barium | Elemental Barium | 201.0 |
| Beryllium | Lightweight structural | 1825.4 |
| Bismuth | Pure Bismuth | 125.6 |
| Boron | Elemental Boron | 1106 |
| Brass | General Yellow Brass | 920 |
| Brass (Yellow) | Source 2 Data | 401.9 |
| Cadmium | Pure Cadmium | 230.3 |
| Calcium | Elemental Calcium | 628.0 |
| Carbon Steel | General industrial steel | 502.4 |
| Cast Iron | Grey cast iron | 554 |
| Chromium | Pure Chromium | 460.5 |
| Cobalt | High purity | 420 |
| Copper | Electrical Grade (pure) | 385 |
| Gold | Pure 24k Gold | 130 |
| Hafnium | Pure Hafnium | 138.2 |
| Incoloy 600 | High-temp superalloy | 527.5 |
| Incoloy 800 | Heat-resistant alloy | 544.3 |
| Iron | Pure / Wrought Iron | 462 |
| Lead | Pure Lead (Solid) | 130 |
| Lead Liquid | Molten state properties | 154.9 |
| Lithium | High energy density metal | 3580 |
| Magnesium | Lightweight Magnesium | 1024 |
| Manganese | Pure Manganese | 477.3 |
| Mercury | Liquid Metal (Room Temp) | 126 |
| Molybdenum | Pure Molybdenum | 277.2 |
| Monel 400 | Corrosion resistant alloy | 460.5 |
| Nickel | Pure Nickel | 502.4 |
| Platinum | Noble metal property | 133 |
| Plutonium | Specialist Data | 140 |
| Potassium | Alkali metal | 753.6 |
| Silver | High conductivity grade | 236 |
| Sodium | Reactor coolant data | 1214.2 |
| Stainless Steel 316 | Corrosion resistance alloy | 468 |
| Stainless Steel 304 | General food grade | 502.4 |
| Tin | Pure Tin (Solid) | 226 |
| Titanium | Aerospace Grade 99% | 521 |
| Tungsten | High temp refractory | 133 |
| Zinc | Galvanizing grade | 389 |
| Zirconium | Nuclear grade alloy | 251.2 |
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