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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 316

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

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Stainless Steel 316Wrought
MechanicalDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 316
Yield strength530MPa12x stronger265MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength640MPa1583MPa2
Elongation at break40%161%21.52x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPa3200GPa2
Densitypart density7,900kg/m³48,027kg/m³2
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg2.03x higher33kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg24.9MN·m/kg6% higher
Poisson's ratiobase material0.35design value0.35
Shear modulus71.2GPa76.9GPa8% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus154GPa167GPa8% higher
Speed of sound4,839m/s4,992m/s3% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Aluminum 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 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 316
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 304Aluminum 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 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 316
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 316
Thermal conductivitybase material16.2W/m·K620–100 °C14.6W/m·K2
Thermal expansionmean 25-100 °C15.7µm/m·K1mean16.5µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth5% less82.5µm growth
Specific heatbase material500J/kg·K6at 20 °C450J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s1% faster4.04mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m2.52x more resistant821W/m
Melting pointnot sourcedmelting range1,390–1,440°C2
Max service temperaturenot sourcedoxidation871–899°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Aluminum 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 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 316
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 304Aluminum 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 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 316
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources6 documents: EOS GmbH, ATI, Steel Construction Institute, Cleveland-Cliffs
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 316
ATI 316 (UNS S31600), annealed 1.0 mm sheet, ATI technical data sheet (2012); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual
  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
    ATI 316, 316L, 317 and 317L Technical Data Sheet (2012)ATIarchived copyStainless Steel 316 · Yield strength: typical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheetStainless Steel 316 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheetStainless Steel 316 · Elongation at break: typical (representative), annealed, in 2 in. (51 mm)Stainless Steel 316 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, in tensionStainless Steel 316 · Density: typicalStainless Steel 316 · Thermal conductivity: 20–100 °CStainless Steel 316 · Thermal expansion: mean, 20–100 °CStainless Steel 316 · Specific heat: at 20 °CStainless Steel 316 · Melting point: melting rangeStainless Steel 316 · Max service temperature: oxidation (scaling) limit in air
  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 316 · 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

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 316?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 265 MPa for Stainless Steel 316 (2x).

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

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter: 7,900 kg/m³ against 8,027 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 316.

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

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

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

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 316 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).

Part that must beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 316
Stiff rod or tie (tension)6% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)2% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plateabout equalabout equal
Strong rod or tielighter2.03x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.61x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter44% 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 316?

Stainless Steel 316 stretches further before it breaks: 61% elongation at break against 40% for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Thermal

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

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 14.6 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 16.5 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.

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