Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Steel AISI 1018
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Steel AISI 1018 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 | 372MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 441MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Elongation at break | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | 15%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY) | 200GPasourcebase material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018) |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 7,861kg/m³sourcebase material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018) |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg2.14x higher | 47.3kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg6% higher | 25.4MN·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) | 0.32sourcebase material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018) |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa | 75.7GPa2.8x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 185GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 5,043m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 51.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018) |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 12µm/m·Ksourcebase material: unalloyed carbon steel, Ovako family table (S275JR, 'none alloyed structural steels', C <= 0.21%); mean 20-300 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 100µm growth | 60µm growth1.67x less |
| Specific heat | 963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C | 486J/kg·Ksourcebase material: AISI 1025 plain carbon steel (MIL-HDBK-5J design value; ASTM A108 bar is the cold-finished carbon-steel bar spec that also covers 1018) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s3.15x faster | 13.6mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m2.52x more resistant | 5,473W/m |
| 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 | AISI 1018 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle, cold-finished bar producer) |
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 Steel AISI 1018?
Steel AISI 1018 is stronger: its yield strength is 372 MPa against 270 MPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum (38%).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 1018?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 7,861 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1018.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 1018?
Steel AISI 1018 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 72 GPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum, so the same part in Steel AISI 1018 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 1018?
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 | Steel AISI 1018 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 6% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.77x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.09x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 2.14x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.38x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.51x 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 Steel AISI 1018?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 51.9 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1018.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 1018 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.