Materials / Compare

Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel

Compare Aluminum 5052-H32 vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 5052-H32Wrought
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength195MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Ultimate tensile strength230MPasourcetypical640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Elongation at break12%sourcetypical40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal
Young's modulus (stiffness)70GPasourcetypical185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)
Density2,685kg/m³sourcenominal7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine
Strength to weight72.6kN·m/kg8% higher67.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.1MN·m/kg11% higher23.4MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value
Shear modulus26.3GPa71.2GPa2.7x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus68.6GPa154GPa
Speed of sound5,106m/s4,839m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity138W/m·Ksourcebase material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typical16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C
Thermal expansion23.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing119µm growth78.6µm growth1.51x less
Specific heat963J/kg·Ksourceat 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)53.4mm²/s13x faster4.1mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance10,822W/m5.24x more resistant2,067W/m
Melting point605–650°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Values for5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)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 Aluminum 5052-H32 stronger than DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 195 MPa for Aluminum 5052-H32 (2.72x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 5052-H32 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter: 2,685 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 5052-H32 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 70 GPa for Aluminum 5052-H32, so the same part in DMLS 316L Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 5052-H32 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 5052-H32 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 beAluminum 5052-H32DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter11% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.81x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.13x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter8% heavier
Strong beamlighter1.51x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter1.78x 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, Aluminum 5052-H32 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

Aluminum 5052-H32 conducts heat better: 138 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 23.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 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 Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelAluminum 5052-H32DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 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 Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickAluminum 5052-H32DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Strength against density

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