When holding stainless steel flatware, is 18/10 heavier than 18/0?
Question #88570. Asked by zbeckabee.
Last updated May 15 2017.
Originally posted May 13 2017 4:56 PM.
elburcher
Answer has 2 votes
elburcher 24 year member
1550 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
All things being equal, such as the same pattern, shape, length, etc. No, there should be no obvious difference in weight. 18 refers to the percentage of chromium content and 10(or 0) refers to the percentage of nickle in the stainless used in the manufacturing of the flatware.
18/10 steel has the same chromium content as 18/0 steel, at 18%, but also has 10% Nickel at the expense of the iron content.
As nickel has a density of 8909 and iron is only 7850 (kg /cubic metre). By my calculations, the average density of 18/10 steel is 7.83, while that of 18/0 steel is 7.73.
Therefore 18/10 steel is about 1.4% heavier than 18/0 steel. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/metal-alloys-densities-d_50.html
I'm not sure though what effect holding it would have on the weight.