Materials Guides

Compare 4140 and 8620 steel for shafts, gears, and splines—hardness, machinability, and cost. Get a material and process recommendation from RPS.

Types of titanium alloys: CP titanium, alpha, alpha-beta (Ti-6Al-4V) & beta — machinability, cost structure, industry selection & CNC machining guide.

1045 vs 4140 steel: hardenability, fatigue resistance, heat treatment capability, CNC machinability & total lifecycle cost comparison for shafts and gears.

Compare copper and steel on electrical conductivity, strength, machinability, corrosion resistance, and lifecycle cost. Learn which material fits your application with engineering data and a practical decision framework.

Nickel plating stainless steel: electroless vs electroplated, wear resistance, galling prevention, tolerance/thickness effects & grade compatibility guide.

Nickel melting point (1455°C) vs steel, titanium & copper — creep resistance, casting/welding challenges, Inconel/Monel/Hastelloy selection guide.

Brass or bronze: strength, wear resistance, corrosion (dezincification), CNC machinability & total cost comparison for bearings, valves & marine hardware.

Learn to read a metal strength chart correctly — tensile vs yield strength, strength-to-weight ratio, machinability, and fatigue. Avoid overdesign with this engineering selection framework.

Weldability of steel: carbon equivalent formula, hydrogen cracking prevention, HAZ hardness, preheat requirements, heat input control & DFM for welded structures.

POM vs nylon: dimensional stability, wear resistance, moisture absorption, chemical resistance, machinability, gear applications & DFM comparison guide.

Medical plastic selection guide: PEEK vs PPSU vs PC, ISO 10993, sterilization compatibility (autoclave, gamma, EtO), dimensional stability, DFM & cost.

Glass density guide: soda-lime 2.5 g/cm³, borosilicate 2.23 g/cm³, lead glass 3.0+, vs plastic and metal, weight calculation formula & engineering applications.

Is aluminum magnetic? No — here's why: paramagnetic properties, comparison to steel and stainless steel, eddy currents, and non-magnetic engineering applications.

Can brass be anodized? No — here's why, plus the best alternatives: electroplating, black oxide, lacquer and PVD for brass corrosion protection.

PVC has no true melting point — it softens above 75–85°C and processes at 160–210°C. Learn why PVC degrades above 200°C, how to control the processing window, and key differences from PP and ABS.