How are stainless steel and aluminum different in terms of thermal conductivity?

Posted by Kyra Rodriguez on January 13th, 2020

Stainless steel and aluminum have long been lauded as one of the most useful industrial materials being used today. Many different industries at different levels benefit from their use, thanks to their many wonderful characteristics.

Aluminum has a better thermal conductivity

Right off the bat, the first thing of note between the two industrial materials is that aluminum has ‘better’ thermal conductivity. Important to note here that having high or low thermal conductivity is not inherently good nor bad. Aluminum simply has a relatively higher thermal conductivity. On the other hand, stainless steel has one of the lowest thermal conductivities for metal alloys.

High and low thermal conductivity are both useful

Both high and low thermal conductivity is useful for many different applications. You just have to know which specific metal can get the job done for you. Aluminum conducts heat well and this makes it good for heat exchangers, heat sinks, and even for cooking materials such as pots and pans.

Industries that benefit from high or low thermal conductivity

There are many specific industries beyond that value a material’s thermal conductivity, regardless if they are high or low. For example, the construction industry is known for using stainless steel for countless structures and their parts.