Materials / Compare

Stainless Steel 17-4PH vs. Stainless Steel 316

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

Stainless Steel 17-4PHWrought
Stainless Steel 316Wrought
MechanicalStainless Steel 17-4PHStainless Steel 316
Yield strength1,275MPa14.81x stronger265MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength1,379MPa12.37x stronger583MPa2
Elongation at break9%161%26.78x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)H 900197GPa1200GPa2
DensityH 9007,800kg/m³18,027kg/m³2
Strength to weight163kN·m/kg4.95x higher33kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg1% higher24.9MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratioH 9000.2721design value0.33
Shear modulus77.4GPa76.9GPa
Bulk modulus144GPa167GPa16% higher
Speed of sound5,026m/s4,992m/s
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 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 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 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 GF30Stainless Steel 17-4PHStainless 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 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 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 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 GF30Stainless Steel 17-4PHStainless Steel 316
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalStainless Steel 17-4PHStainless Steel 316
Thermal conductivityat 149 °C17.9W/m·K123% more heat through a fin20–100 °C14.6W/m·K2
Thermal expansionmean10.8µm/m·K11.53x lessmean16.5µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing54µm growth1.53x less82.5µm growth
Specific heatmean460J/kg·K1at 20 °C450J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.99mm²/s23% faster4.04mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance7,809W/m9.52x more resistant821W/m
Melting pointnot sourcedmelting range1,390–1,440°C2
Max service temperature316°C1oxidation871–899°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 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 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 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 GF30Stainless Steel 17-4PHStainless 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 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 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 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 GF30Stainless Steel 17-4PHStainless Steel 316
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources3 documents: Cleveland-Cliffs, ATI, Steel Construction Institute
Stainless Steel 17-4PH
Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021)
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
    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)
  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
    Design Manual for Structural Stainless Steel, 4th Edition (P413)Steel Construction Institutearchived copyStainless Steel 316 · Poisson's ratio: design value (structural stainless steels)

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.

Questions

Mechanical

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

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 265 MPa for Stainless Steel 316 (4.81x).

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

Stainless Steel 17-4PH is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 8,027 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 316.

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

Stainless Steel 316 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 197 GPa for Stainless Steel 17-4PH, so the same part in Stainless Steel 316 deflects less under the same load.

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

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 beStainless Steel 17-4PHStainless Steel 316
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter1% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter4.95x heavier
Strong beamlighter2.93x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.26x 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, Stainless Steel 17-4PH or Stainless Steel 316?

Stainless Steel 316 stretches further before it breaks: 61% elongation at break against 9% for Stainless Steel 17-4PH.

Thermal

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

Stainless Steel 17-4PH conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 14.6 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.

Which expands less with temperature?

Stainless Steel 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 16.5 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.

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