Silicon Nitride vs. Soda-lime Glass

Silicon nitride belongs to the non-oxide engineering ceramics classification, while soda-lime glass belongs to the glass and glass-ceramics. There are 12 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (13, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is silicon nitride and the bottom bar is soda-lime glass.

Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)Soda-Lime (Float) Glass

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		140 to 310
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		70 to 71

Poisson's Ratio		0.24 to 0.27
Poisson's Ratio		0.23

Thermal Properties

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		1000 to 1330
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		300

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		720 to 800
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		720 to 800

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		12 to 31
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		1.0 to 1.1

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		2.5 to 3.2
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		8.8 to 9.0

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 MHz		8.0 to 10
Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 MHz		7.3 to 7.4

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		18
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		13

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		2.2 to 3.4
Density, g/cm³		2.4

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		34 to 53
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		16

Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		65 to 78
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		56

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		7.5 to 13
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.51 to 0.6