Sound Velocity Chart

All velocities are approximations:

Material Sound Velocity

Inch/µS M/s
Air 0.01 330
Aluminum 0.25 6300
Alumina Oxide 0.39 9900
Beryllium 0.51 12900
Boron Carbide 0.43 11000
Brass 0.17 4300
Cadmium 0.11 2800
Copper 0.18 4700
Glass(crown) 0.21 5300
Glycerin 0.08 1900
Gold 0.13 3200
Ice 0.16 4000
Inconel 0.22 5700
Iron 0.23 5900
Iron (cast) 0.18 4600
Lead 0.09 2200
Magnesium 0.23 5800
Mercury 0.06 1400
Molybdenum 0.25 6300
Monel 0.21 5400
Neoprene 0.06 1600
Nickel 0.22 5600
Nylon, 6.6 0.1 2600
Oil (SAE 30) 0.07 1700
Platinum 0.13 3300
Plexiglass 0.11 1700
Polyethylene 0.07 1900
Polystyrene 0.09 2400
Polyurethane 0.07 1900
Quartz 0.23 5800
Rubber, Butyl 0.07 1800
Silver 0.14 3600
Steel, Mild 0.23 5900
Steel, Stainless 0.23 5800
Teflon 0.06 1400
Tin 0.13 3300
Titanium 0.24 6100
Tungsten 0.2 5200
Uranium 0.13 3400
Water 0.58 1480
Zinc 0.17 4200
 Acoustical Properties Of Common Materials
Ultrasonic Velocity
Material Longitudinal Transverse (Shear) Impedanc
e
in / us mm / us in / us mm / us Z
METALS
Aluminum 1100-0 0.25 6.23 0.12 3.07 17.1
Aluminum 2024-T4 0.25 6.38 0.12 3.15 17.6
Aluminum 6061-T6 0.25 6.3 0.12 3.15 17
Beryllium 0.51 12.88 0.35 8.89 23.5
Brass (70% Cu - 30% Zn 0.17 4.37 0.08 2.11 37.1
Bronze (Phosphor 5%) 0.14 3.53 0.09 2.24 31.3
Copper (CP) 0.19 4.75 0.09 2.34 42.5
Gold 0.13 3.25 0.05 1.19 62.6
Hastelloy C 0.23 5.84 0.11 2.9 52.2
Hastelloy X 0.23 5.79 0.11 2.74 47.7
Inconel (Wrought) 0.31 7.82 0.12 3.02 64.5
Iron (Cast), Various Alloys 0.138- 3.505- 0.087- 2.210- 24.3-
Lead (94Pb-6Sb) 0.220
0.09 5.588
2.16 0.126
0.03 3.200
0.81 41.2
23.5
Magnesium, Various Alloys 0.215- 5.461- 0.119- 3.023- 9.24-
Monel 0.228
0.21 5.791
5.36 0.122
0.11 3.099
2.72 10.6
47.2
Nickel (CP) 0.22 5.64 0.12 2.97 50
Silver (0.99 Fine) 0.14 3.61 0.06 1.6 37.8
Steel 1020 0.23 5.89 0.13 3.25 45.4
Steel 4340 0.23 5.84 0.13 3.25 45.6
Steel , CRES 300 Series 0.221- 5.613- 0.120-. 3.048- 44.6-
Steel , CRES 400 Series 0.226
0.212- 5.740
5.385- 0123
0.118- 3.124
2.997- 45.4
41.3-
Titanium, 6AI-4V 0.237
0.24 6.020
6.17 0.132
0.13 3.353
3.3 46.3
27.3
Zircaloy 0.19 4.72 0.09 2.36 44.2
Zirconium 0.18 4.65 0.09 2.26 30.1
POLYMERS
Acrylics 0.105- 2.667- 0.044- 1.118- 3.15-
Cellulose Acetate 0.109
0.1 2.769
2.44 0.057
No 1.448
Shear Component 3.51
3.19
Nylon 0.02 2.69 No Shear Component  -----------
Phenolic 0.06 1.42 No Shear Component --
1.9
Polycarbonate 0.09 2.29 No Shear Component 2.71
Polyethylene 0.11 2.67 No Shear Component 2.94
Polystyrene 0.09 2.39 0.05 1.14 2.52
Rubber (Natural) 0.06 1.55 No Shear Component 1.74
Rubber (Carbon Filter) 0.07 1.68 No Shear Component  -----------
Rubber (Silicone) 0.04 0.94 No Shear Component --
1.4
Teflon 0.05 1.37 0.25 6.35 3
MISCELLANEOUS SOLIDS
Alumina (Al2O3) 0.43 10.85 No Shear Component 43.1
Concrete 0.167- 4.242- 0.14 3.43 12.4
Glass (Plate) 0.207
0.23 5.258
5.77 No Shear Component 14.5
Granite 0.16 3.96 0.08 1.93 10.9
Ice ( -16C) 0.15 3.81 No Shear Component 3.6
Quartz, Natural 0.23 5.74 0.14 3.53 15.2
Quartz, Fused 0.22 5.56 0.3 7.67 14.5
Sapphire 0.47 11.91 0.16 3.99 47.2
Tungsten Carbide 0.26 6.66 No Shear Component 67.6
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Fiberglass (50 v/o) 0.12 3.15 0.07 1.73 6.04
Graphite/Epoxy (60 v/o) 0.12 2.97 0.08 1.96 4.65
Boron/Epoxy (50v/o) 0.13 3.33 0.07 1.83 6.38
LIQUIDS
Ethylene Glycol 0.06 1.63 No Shear Component 1.8
Glycerin 0.08 1.93 No Shear Component 2.42
Oil (SAE 20) 0.07 1.75 No Shear Component 1.51
Water (20C) 0.06 1.47 No Shear Component 1.48
Gases
Air (20ºC) 0.01 0.36 No Shear Component 0
Nitrogen (20ºC) 0.01 0.36 No Shear Component 0
Oxygen (20ºC) 0.01 0.33 No Shear Component 0