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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 303

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 303 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Stainless Steel 303Wrought
MechanicalDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 303
Yield strength530MPa11.93x strongerOutokumpu typical275MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength640MPa1Outokumpu typical585MPa2
Elongation at break40%114% more ductileOutokumpu typical35%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPa3at RT200GPa2
Densitypart density7,900kg/m³4at RT7,900kg/m³2
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg1.93x higher34.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg25.3MN·m/kg8% higher
Poisson's ratiobase material0.35design value0.35
Shear modulus71.2GPa76.9GPa8% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus154GPa167GPa8% higher
Speed of sound4,839m/s5,032m/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 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 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 303
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 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 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 303
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 303
Thermal conductivitybase material16.2W/m·K6at RT15W/m·K2
Thermal expansionmean 25-100 °C15.7µm/m·K1mean16µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth2% less80µm growth
Specific heatbase material500J/kg·K6at RT500J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s8% faster3.8mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m2.29x more resistant902W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourcedcontinuous871°C7
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 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 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 303
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 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 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 303
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources7 documents: EOS GmbH, Outokumpu, Steel Construction Institute, Cleveland-Cliffs, Carpenter Technology
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 303
1.4305 / UNS S30300, Outokumpu typical values (hot rolled, solution annealed) from 'Steel Grades, Properties and Global Standards'; max service from Carpenter CarTech 303 datasheet
  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
    Steel Grades, Properties and Global StandardsOutokumpuarchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Yield strength: Outokumpu typical (product P = hot rolled plate, transverse)Stainless Steel 303 · Ultimate tensile strength: Outokumpu typicalStainless Steel 303 · Elongation at break: Outokumpu typical, A5Stainless Steel 303 · Young's modulus (stiffness): at RT (Table 12)Stainless Steel 303 · Density: at RTStainless Steel 303 · Thermal conductivity: at RTStainless Steel 303 · Thermal expansion: mean, 20–100 °CStainless Steel 303 · Specific heat: at RT
  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 valueStainless Steel 303 · Poisson's ratio: design value (structural stainless steels)
  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
  7. 7
    Carpenter Stainless Type 303 Data SheetCarpenter Technologyarchived copyStainless Steel 303 · Max service temperature: continuous, scaling limit

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 303?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 275 MPa for Stainless Steel 303 (1.93x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 303?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter: 7,900 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 303.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 303?

Stainless Steel 303 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 185 GPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel, so the same part in Stainless Steel 303 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 303?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Stainless Steel 303 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 303
Stiff rod or tie (tension)8% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)4% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate3% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter1.93x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.55x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter39% heavier

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 303?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stretches further before it breaks: 40% elongation at break against 35% for Stainless Steel 303.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 303?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 15 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 16 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.

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