Materials / Compare
Aluminum vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Compare Aluminum vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel 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 | 276MPasourcetypical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimen | 530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 310MPasourcetypical | 640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Elongation at break | 17%sourcetypical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimen | 40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 68.3GPasourcetypical | 185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet) |
| Density | 2,700kg/m³sourcenominal | 7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine |
| Strength to weight | 102kN·m/kg1.52x higher | 67.1kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg8% higher | 23.4MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.33sourcetypical (handbook physical constant) | 0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value |
| Shear modulus | 25.7GPa | 71.2GPa2.77x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 67GPa | 154GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,030m/s | 4,839m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 167W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C | 16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 23.6µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-100 °C | 15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 118µm growth | 78.6µm growth1.5x less |
| Specific heat | 896J/kg·Ksourcetypical, at 100 °C | 500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 69mm²/s16.8x faster | 4.1mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 19,159W/m9.27x more resistant | 2,067W/m |
| Melting point | 582–652°Csourcesolidus-liquidus | not sourced |
| Values for | 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J | EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1 |
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 316L Stainless Steel is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum stronger than DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 276 MPa for Aluminum (1.92x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
Aluminum is lighter: 2,700 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum, so the same part in DMLS 316L Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: 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 | Aluminum | DMLS 316L Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 8% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 1.78x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.1x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 1.52x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.89x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.11x 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 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum.