Materials / Compare
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Steel AISI 1045
Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Steel AISI 1045 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 | 531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn |
| Elongation at break | 10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | 12%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) | 210GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm) | 7,800kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 101kN·m/kg49% higher | 68.1kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 27MN·m/kg | 26.9MN·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) | 0.3sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | 27.1GPa | 80.8GPa2.98x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 70.6GPa | 175GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,193m/s | 5,189m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2) | 40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient |
| Thermal expansion | 20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 12µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 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 | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 42.8mm²/s3.69x faster | 11.6mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 13,819W/m2.2x more resistant | 6,269W/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 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants |
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 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 270 MPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum (1.97x).
Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 1045?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1045.
Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 72 GPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 1045?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter for a 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 1045 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | about equal | about equal |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.71x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.04x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 49% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.86x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.08x 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 1045?
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 42.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.