Materials / Compare

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum

Compare DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)
MechanicalDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Yield strengthmean861MPa13.19x stronger270MPa2
Ultimate tensile strengthmean886MPa11.97x stronger450MPa2
Elongation at breakmean at break19.9%11.95x more ductile10.2%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)base material197GPa32.74x stiffer72GPa4
Densitymean part density7,790kg/m³12,670kg/m³52.92x lighter
Strength to weight110kN·m/kg9% higher101kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg27MN·m/kg7% higher
Poisson's ratiobase material0.2723base material0.336
Shear modulus77.4GPa2.86x stiffer in shear27.1GPa
Bulk modulus144GPa2.04x higher70.6GPa
Speed of sound5,029m/s5,193m/s3% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Thermal conductivitybase material17.9W/m·K3110W/m·K26.15x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansionmean 25-100 °C10.4µm/m·K11.92x lessmean 25-100 °C20µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing52µm growth1.92x less100µm growth
Specific heatbase material460J/kg·K3base material963J/kg·K6
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)5mm²/s42.8mm²/s8.56x faster
Thermal shock resistance5,474W/m13,819W/m2.52x more resistant
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Sources6 documents: EOS GmbH, Cleveland-Cliffs, Renishaw, U.S. Department of Defense
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
EOS StainlessSteel 17-4PH IndustryLine (powder 9011-0041), EOS M 290, 40 µm, default job 17-4PH_040_StainlessM291_100, as built, horizontal; ISO 6892 & ASTM E8M
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10
  1. 1
    EOS StainlessSteel 17-4PH IndustryLine Material Data Sheet, M 290EOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Yield strength: mean, as built, horizontal (N=72)DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Ultimate tensile strength: mean, as built, horizontal (N=72)DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Elongation at break: mean at break, as built, horizontalDMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Density: mean part density (ISO 3369)DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Thermal expansion: mean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)
  2. 2
    EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data SheetEOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Yield strength: typical, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Elongation at break: typical at break, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Thermal conductivity: typical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2)DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Thermal expansion: mean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
  3. 3
    17-4 PH Stainless Steel Product Data Bulletin (2021)Cleveland-CliffsDMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Young's modulus (stiffness): base material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Poisson's ratio: base material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Thermal conductivity: base material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel · Specific heat: base material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)
  4. 4
    RenAM 500 Series Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data SheetRenishawDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Young's modulus (stiffness): same material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY)
  5. 5
    EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data Sheet, FlexLine, M 290 (2018)EOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Density: typical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm)
  6. 6
    MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Poisson's ratio: base material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000)DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Specific heat: base material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel and DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel stronger than DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 270 MPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum (3.19x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 72 GPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum, so the same part in DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter for a strong rod or tie; DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Stiff rod or tie (tension)7% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.76x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2.09x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter9% heavier
Strong beam35% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1.63x heavierlighter

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which is more ductile, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel stretches further before it breaks: 19.9% elongation at break against 10.2% for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 17.9 W/m·K for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Related comparisons