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Quick Reference: Specific heat capacity is the energy required to raise 1 kg of a material by 1°C (or 1 K). Most metals range from 116 to 1,230 J/(kg·K). For example, aluminum (897 J/kg·K) heats up much faster than lithium (3,582 J/kg·K) but slower than gold (129 J/kg·K).
Q = m × c × ΔT
Understanding the specific heat capacity of metals is essential in CNC machining, welding, heat treatment, casting, and thermal management design. Choosing the wrong alloy for a high-temperature application can lead to thermal distortion, premature tool wear, or catastrophic failure. This page provides a complete reference table of 60+ metals with values in five unit systems, plus an interactive heat energy calculator for engineering calculations.
Complete reference for 60+ metals and alloys at room temperature (~25°C / 298 K). Data sourced from CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Click column headers to sort. Use category filters or search to find your material quickly.
| Metal ▲▼ | Category | J/(kg·K) ▲▼ | J/(g·K) ▲▼ | cal/(g·°C) ▲▼ | BTU/(lb·°F) ▲▼ | kJ/(kg·K) ▲▼ |
|---|
Engineering documents may use any of these five unit systems. The conversion factors below let you move between them quickly:
1 J/(g·K) =
1,000 J/(kg·K)
1 J/(g·K) =
0.2389 cal/(g·°C)
1 J/(g·K) =
0.2389 BTU/(lb·°F)
1 cal/(g·°C) =
4.184 J/(g·K)
1 BTU/(lb·°F) =
4,186.8 J/(kg·K)
1 kJ/(kg·K) =
1,000 J/(kg·K)
The heat energy required to change the temperature of a metal is calculated using:
Q = m × c × ΔT
Where: Q = heat energy (Joules), m = mass (kg), c = specific heat capacity (J/kg·K), ΔT = change in temperature (K or °C).
How much energy is needed to heat a 2.5 kg aluminum billet from 20°C to 350°C?
Step 1: Find specific heat of aluminum: c = 897 J/(kg·K)
Step 2: Calculate ΔT = 350 − 20 = 330 K
Step 3: Q = 2.5 × 897 × 330 = 740,025 J = 740 kJ
Engineering note: Specific heat values vary with temperature. The values in this table are measured at ~25°C. For high-temperature processes (heat treatment, welding, casting), consult material-specific temperature-dependent data. The error can be 5–15% for temperature swings exceeding 500°C.
In CNC machining, metals with low specific heat (like titanium at 523 J/kg·K or tungsten at 134 J/kg·K) concentrate heat at the cutting zone, accelerating tool wear and requiring aggressive coolant delivery. Conversely, aluminum's relatively high specific heat (897 J/kg·K) means it absorbs more energy before reaching critical temperatures, allowing higher cutting speeds but requiring more total energy for thermal processes.
In welding and heat treatment, specific heat determines the energy input needed to reach target temperatures. A steel component (490 J/kg·K) requires roughly half the energy per kilogram to reach a given temperature compared to an aluminum component of the same mass. This directly affects cycle time, energy costs, and furnace sizing in production environments.
For thermal management in electronics and heat sinks, copper (386 J/kg·K) and aluminum (897 J/kg·K) are preferred not just for their thermal conductivity, but because their specific heat provides thermal buffer capacity — absorbing transient heat spikes without rapid temperature rise.
Lithium has the highest specific heat capacity of any pure metal at 3,582 J/(kg·K), followed by sodium (1,230) and magnesium (1,023). However, lithium is highly reactive and rarely used in structural applications. Among commonly used engineering metals, aluminum (897 J/kg·K) has the highest practical specific heat.
Thorium (116 J/kg·K) and uranium (116 J/kg·K) have among the lowest values. Among common engineering metals, gold (129 J/kg·K) and lead (129 J/kg·K) are at the bottom. Low specific heat means these metals heat up and cool down very quickly with minimal energy input.
Metals with low specific heat concentrate heat at the cutting zone, accelerating tool wear and requiring more coolant. Titanium (523 J/kg·K) is a classic example — it doesn't conduct heat well AND has moderate specific heat, so heat stays at the tool tip. Aluminum (897 J/kg·K) absorbs heat more readily, allowing faster cutting speeds.
Specific heat measures how much energy a material stores per degree of temperature change (J/kg·K). Thermal conductivity measures how fast heat flows through a material (W/m·K). A metal can have high specific heat but low conductivity (stores a lot but transfers slowly) or vice versa. Both properties together determine thermal diffusivity.
Yes. For most metals, specific heat increases with temperature. At very high temperatures (approaching melting point), the deviation from room-temperature values can be 5–15%. For precision engineering calculations in heat treatment or casting, always use temperature-dependent data from material specifications.
Multiply J/(kg·K) by 0.0002389 to get BTU/(lb·°F). Or divide by 4,186.8. For example, aluminum: 897 ÷ 4,186.8 = 0.214 BTU/(lb·°F). Note that numerically, J/(g·K) and BTU/(lb·°F) are very close in value — a useful shortcut for quick mental conversion.
Metals with higher specific heat (like aluminum at 897 J/kg·K) require more energy input to reach welding temperature, which means higher amperage settings and slower travel speeds. Steel (490 J/kg·K) requires roughly half the energy per kilogram. When welding dissimilar metals, the difference in specific heat can cause uneven heating and residual stress — a common issue in structural fastener assemblies.
In high-temperature applications such as exhaust systems, engines, and industrial furnaces, heat-resistant fasteners must maintain clamping force under thermal cycling. Specific heat capacity, combined with thermal expansion coefficient, determines how quickly a fastener reaches equilibrium temperature and how much it expands. This data is critical for torque specification calculations.
Metals with higher specific heat absorb more energy before changing temperature, giving them better inherent resistance to thermal shock. This is why cast iron (460 J/kg·K) performs better than tool steel in sudden temperature changes. In fastener selection for thermal cycling environments, pairing a high-specific-heat bolt material with proper gasket design prevents joint loosening.
During quenching and tempering, the specific heat of the steel determines how much energy must be removed to achieve the target cooling rate. A 10 mm carbon steel bolt (490 J/kg·K) cools faster than an aluminum part of the same mass (897 J/kg·K) because it stores less thermal energy. Furnace cycle times and quench media selection are directly calculated from specific heat values.
