Materials / Compare

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Titanium

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

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
TitaniumWrought
MechanicalDMLS 316L Stainless SteelTitanium
Yield strength530MPa1885MPa21.67x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength640MPa1940MPa247% stronger
Elongation at break40%12.5x more ductile16%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPa3107–122GPa4
Densitypart density7,900kg/m³54,430kg/m³21.78x lighter
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg200kN·m/kg2.98x higher
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg25.8MN·m/kg10% higher
Poisson's ratiobase material0.360.3422
Shear modulus71.2GPa1.67x stiffer in shear42.7GPa
Bulk modulus154GPa28% higher121GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s5,084m/s5% faster
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronSteel 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 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 SteelTitanium
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronSteel 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 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 SteelTitanium
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalDMLS 316L Stainless SteelTitanium
Thermal conductivitybase material16.2W/m·K72.45x more heat through a fin6.6W/m·K4
Thermal expansionmean 25-100 °C15.7µm/m·K19µm/m·K41.75x less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth45µm growth1.75x less
Specific heatbase material500J/kg·K7580J/kg·K416% higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s1.6x faster2.57mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m3,730W/m1.8x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourcedmelting range1,630–1,650°C2
Max service temperaturenot sourced400°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronSteel 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 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 SteelTitanium
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 NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronSteel 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 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 SteelTitanium
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources7 documents: EOS GmbH, TIMET, 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
Titanium
TIMETAL 6-4 (Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5) annealed plate typical (TIMET properties manual) + TIMET datasheet TMC-0150 physical properties
  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
    TIMETAL 6-4 PropertiesTIMETarchived copyTitanium · Yield strength: typical, plate (>0.187 in), annealed, 0.2% offsetTitanium · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, plate, annealedTitanium · Elongation at break: typical, in 2 in., plate annealedTitanium · Density: nominalTitanium · Poisson's ratio: mean of TIMET measurementsTitanium · Melting point: melting rangeTitanium · Max service temperature: upper recommended use temperature
  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
    TIMETAL 6-4 Data SheetTIMETarchived copyTitanium · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical range, 20 °CTitanium · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °C, mill annealedTitanium · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 0-100 °CTitanium · Specific heat: typical, 20 °C
  5. 5
    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
  6. 6
    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
  7. 7
    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 Titanium?

Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 885 MPa against 530 MPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel (1.67x).

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

Titanium is lighter: 4,430 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

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

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 115 GPa for Titanium, so the same part in DMLS 316L Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

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

For the same stiffness or strength: Titanium 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 SteelTitanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)10% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)40% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate1.52x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie2.98x heavierlighter
Strong beam2.51x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.3x 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 Titanium?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stretches further before it breaks: 40% elongation at break against 16% for Titanium.

Thermal

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

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 6.6 W/m·K for Titanium.

Which expands less with temperature?

Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 15.7 µm/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

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