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Aluminum 7075-T6 vs. DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel

Compare Aluminum 7075-T6 vs. DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Aluminum 7075-T6Wrought
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength503MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)
Ultimate tensile strength572MPasourcetypical886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)
Elongation at break11%sourcetypical, in 4D19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal
Young's modulus (stiffness)71GPasourcetypical197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)
Density2,800kg/m³sourcenominal7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)
Strength to weight180kN·m/kg1.63x higher110kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.4MN·m/kg25.3MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)
Shear modulus26.7GPa77.4GPa2.9x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus69.6GPa144GPa
Speed of sound5,036m/s5,029m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity130W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C, T65117.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)
Thermal expansion23.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing117µm growth52µm growth2.25x less
Specific heat960J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)48.4mm²/s9.68x faster5mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance26,370W/m4.82x more resistant5,474W/m
Melting point532–635°Csourcemelting rangenot sourced
Values for7075-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum rod & bar (mechanical) and sheet/coil/plate (physical) typical datasheets; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5JEOS StainlessSteel 17-4PH IndustryLine (powder 9011-0041), EOS M 290, 40 µm, default job 17-4PH_040_StainlessM291_100, as built, horizontal; ISO 6892 & ASTM E8M

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 17-4PH Stainless Steel is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Aluminum 7075-T6 stronger than DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 503 MPa for Aluminum 7075-T6 (1.71x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 7075-T6 or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

Aluminum 7075-T6 is lighter: 2,800 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 7075-T6 or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum 7075-T6, so the same part in DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 7075-T6 or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 7075-T6 is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum 7075-T6DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)about equalabout equal
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.67x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter1.98x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.63x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.94x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.13x 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 7075-T6 or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

Aluminum 7075-T6 conducts heat better: 130 W/m·K against 17.9 W/m·K for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 23.4 µm/m·K for Aluminum 7075-T6.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-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 316L Stainless SteelAluminum 7075-T6DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-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 316L Stainless SteelBrickAluminum 7075-T6DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Strength against density

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