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DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Steel AISI 4340

Compare DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs. Steel AISI 4340 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)
Steel AISI 4340Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal1,035MPasourcetypical, transverse
Ultimate tensile strength450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal1,140MPasourcetypical, transverse
Elongation at break10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal18%sourcetypical, transverse
Young's modulus (stiffness)72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY)200GPasourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
Density2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm)7,840kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight101kN·m/kg132kN·m/kg31% higher
Stiffness to weight27MN·m/kg6% higher25.5MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.33sourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000)0.32sourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
Shear modulus27.1GPa75.7GPa2.8x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus70.6GPa185GPa
Speed of sound5,193m/s5,049m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2)37.5W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22811.3µm/m·Ksourcemean, -18 to 93 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing100µm growth56.5µm growth1.77x less
Specific heat963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C448J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)42.8mm²/s4.01x faster10.7mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance13,819W/m18% more resistant11,678W/m
Values forEOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10Carpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level

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 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,035 MPa against 270 MPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum (3.83x).

Which is lighter, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 4340?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 7,840 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 4340.

Which is stiffer, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 72 GPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum, so the same part in Steel AISI 4340 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum or Steel AISI 4340?

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 beam, strong panel or plate; Steel AISI 4340 is lighter for a strong rod or tie.

Part that must beDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumSteel AISI 4340
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter6% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter1.76x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.09x heavier
Strong rod or tie31% heavierlighter
Strong beamlighter20% heavier
Strong panel or platelighter50% 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 4340?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 37.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel AISI 4340 expands less: 11.3 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel 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 Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumSteel AISI 4340
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel 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 Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumSteel AISI 4340
Strength against density

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