Materials / Compare

Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel

Compare Aluminum 6061-T6 vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 6061-T6Wrought
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Ultimate tensile strength310MPasourcetypical640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Elongation at break17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal
Young's modulus (stiffness)68.3GPasourcetypical185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)
Density2,700kg/m³sourcenominal7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine
Strength to weight102kN·m/kg1.52x higher67.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg8% higher23.4MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value
Shear modulus25.7GPa71.2GPa2.77x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus67GPa154GPa
Speed of sound5,030m/s4,839m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C
Thermal expansion23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing118µm growth78.6µm growth1.5x less
Specific heat896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)69mm²/s16.8x faster4.1mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance19,159W/m9.27x more resistant2,067W/m
Melting point582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidusnot sourced
Values for6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JEOS 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 6061-T6 stronger than DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 276 MPa for Aluminum 6061-T6 (1.92x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 6061-T6 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

Aluminum 6061-T6 is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 6061-T6 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum 6061-T6, so the same part in DMLS 316L Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 6061-T6 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 6061-T6 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 6061-T6DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter8% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.78x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.1x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.52x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.89x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.11x 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 6061-T6 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?

Aluminum 6061-T6 conducts heat better: 167 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 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum 6061-T6.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 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 Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelAluminum 6061-T6DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 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 Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickAluminum 6061-T6DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Strength against density

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