Materials / Compare

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Nickel Inconel 718

Compare DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Nickel Inconel 718 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Nickel Inconel 718Wrought
MechanicalDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelNickel Inconel 718
Yield strengthmean861MPa11,207MPa240% stronger
Ultimate tensile strengthmean886MPa11,389MPa21.57x stronger
Elongation at breakmean at break19.9%120%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)base material197GPa3200GPa2
Densitymean part density7,790kg/m³18,221kg/m³2
Strength to weight110kN·m/kg147kN·m/kg33% higher
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg4% higher24.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratiobase material0.27230.2942
Shear modulus77.4GPa77.3GPa
Bulk modulus144GPa162GPa12% higher
Speed of sound5,029m/s2% faster4,932m/s
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 C260Magnesium 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 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 SteelNickel Inconel 718
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 C260Magnesium 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 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 SteelNickel Inconel 718
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelNickel Inconel 718
Thermal conductivitybase material17.9W/m·K31.57x more heat through a fin11.4W/m·K2
Thermal expansionmean 25-100 °C10.4µm/m·K127% less13.2µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing52µm growth27% less66µm growth
Specific heatbase material460J/kg·K3435J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)5mm²/s1.57x faster3.19mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance5,474W/m49% more resistant3,680W/m
Melting pointnot sourcedmelting range1,260–1,336°C2
Max service temperaturenot sourced704°C2
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 C260Magnesium 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 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 SteelNickel Inconel 718
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 C260Magnesium 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS 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 SteelNickel Inconel 718
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources3 documents: EOS GmbH, Special Metals, Cleveland-Cliffs
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
Nickel Inconel 718
INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values
  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
    INCONEL alloy 718 (SMC-045)Special Metalsarchived copyNickel Inconel 718 · Yield strength: typical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offsetNickel Inconel 718 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 1.0 in. barNickel Inconel 718 · Elongation at break: typical, 1.0 in. barNickel Inconel 718 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 21 °C, annealed + agedNickel Inconel 718 · Density: nominal, annealed and agedNickel Inconel 718 · Poisson's ratio: typical, 21 °C, annealed + agedNickel Inconel 718 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)Nickel Inconel 718 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + agedNickel Inconel 718 · Specific heat: typical, 21 °CNickel Inconel 718 · Melting point: melting rangeNickel Inconel 718 · Max service temperature: upper use temperature stated by producer
  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)

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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel stronger than Nickel Inconel 718?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 861 MPa for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel (40%).

Which is lighter, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Nickel Inconel 718?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter: 7,790 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Nickel Inconel 718?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 197 GPa for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Nickel Inconel 718?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelNickel Inconel 718
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter4% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter5% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter5% heavier
Strong rod or tie33% heavierlighter
Strong beam19% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate12% 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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Nickel Inconel 718?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 11.4 W/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 13.2 µm/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.

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