Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Iron
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Iron strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Elongation at break | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg4.27x higher | 23.7kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg2% higher | 26.3MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000) | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa | 80.7GPa2.98x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 158GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 5,132m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth | 68.5µm growth46% less |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s2.07x faster | 20.7mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m4.01x more resistant | 3,447W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,532°Csourcetypical |
| Values for | EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10 | Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal. |
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 AlSi10Mg Aluminum is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum stronger than Iron?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 270 MPa against 186 MPa for Iron (45%).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Iron?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 72 GPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 be | DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum | Iron |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.74x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.07x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 4.27x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 3.77x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3.55x 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, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Iron?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 73.2 W/m·K for Iron.
Which expands less with temperature?
Iron expands less: 13.7 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.