Materials / Compare

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 17-4PH

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 17-4PH strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Stainless Steel 17-4PHWrought
MechanicalDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 17-4PH
Yield strength530MPa11,275MPa22.41x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength640MPa11,379MPa22.15x stronger
Elongation at break40%14.44x more ductile9%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPa3H 900197GPa2
Densitypart density7,900kg/m³4H 9007,800kg/m³2
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg163kN·m/kg2.44x higher
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg25.3MN·m/kg8% higher
Poisson's ratiobase material0.35H 9000.2722
Shear modulus71.2GPa77.4GPa9% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus154GPa7% higher144GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s5,026m/s4% 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 303Aluminum 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH 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 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 17-4PH
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 303Aluminum 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 17-4PH
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 17-4PH
Thermal conductivitybase material16.2W/m·K6at 149 °C17.9W/m·K2
Thermal expansionmean 25-100 °C15.7µm/m·K1mean10.8µm/m·K246% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth54µm growth46% less
Specific heatbase material500J/kg·K6mean460J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s4.99mm²/s22% faster
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m7,809W/m3.78x more resistant
Max service temperaturenot sourced316°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 303Aluminum 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH 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 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 17-4PH
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 303Aluminum 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH 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 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 17-4PH
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources6 documents: EOS GmbH, Cleveland-Cliffs, Steel Construction Institute
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1
Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021)
  1. 1
    EOS StainlessSteel 316L Material Data SheetEOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Yield strength: typical, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Elongation at break: typical at break, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Thermal expansion: mean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
  2. 2
    17-4 PH Stainless Steel Product Data Bulletin (2021)Cleveland-CliffsStainless Steel 17-4PH · Yield strength: typical, transverse, sheet/stripStainless Steel 17-4PH · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, transverse, sheet/stripStainless Steel 17-4PH · Elongation at break: typical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Young's modulus (stiffness): H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Density: H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Poisson's ratio: H 900 (column)Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Thermal conductivity: at 149 °C (300 °F), H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Thermal expansion: mean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Specific heat: mean, 0–100 °C, H 900Stainless Steel 17-4PH · Max service temperature: strength-retention limit (not oxidation)
  3. 3
    EOS StainlessSteel 316L Material Data Sheet, M 280 and M 290 (2014)EOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)
  4. 4
    EOS StainlessSteel 316L Material Data Sheet, FlexLine, M 290 (2016)EOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Density: part density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine
  5. 5
    Design Manual for Structural Stainless Steel, 4th Edition (P413)Steel Construction Institutearchived copyDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Poisson's ratio: base material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value
  6. 6
    316/316L Stainless Steel Product Data Bulletin (2021)Cleveland-CliffsDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Thermal conductivity: base material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °CDMLS 316L Stainless Steel · Specific heat: base material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °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 316L Stainless Steel is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stronger than Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 530 MPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel (2.41x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 185 GPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel, so the same part in Stainless Steel 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

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

Part that must beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 17-4PH
Stiff rod or tie (tension)8% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)5% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate3% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie2.44x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.82x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1.57x 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 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stretches further before it breaks: 40% elongation at break against 9% for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 17-4PH?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 15.7 µm/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

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