Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel

Compare Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C	530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Ultimate tensile strength	not sourced	640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Flexural strength	65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C	not sourced
Elongation at break	10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C	40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.3GPasourcetypical	185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)
Density	1,040kg/m³sourcetypical	7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine
Strength to weight	43.3kN·m/kg	67.1kN·m/kg1.55x higher
Stiffness to weight	2.21MN·m/kg	23.4MN·m/kg10.6x higher
Poisson's ratio	0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)	0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value
Shear modulus	0.827GPa	71.2GPa86x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	3.48GPa	154GPa
Speed of sound	1,487m/s	4,839m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical	16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C
Thermal expansion	80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange	15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	78.6µm growth6.04x less
Specific heat	not sourced	500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	4.1mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	21.4W/m	2,067W/m96.8x more resistant
Max service temperature	94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)	not sourced
Values for	INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)	EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1

Every value links to the document that states it. "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

Is Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) stronger than DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (11.8x).

Which is lighter, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in DMLS 316L Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

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

Part that must be	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)	DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	10.6x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	18% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	1.76x heavier
Strong rod or tie	1.55x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	lighter	47% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	2.21x 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 conducts heat better, Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density