DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. FDM HIPS

Compare DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. FDM HIPS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)

FDM HIPS3D printed (FDM)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)	18.4MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength	not sourced	31.8MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal	1.4%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)	1.59GPasourcetypical
Density	7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)	1,023kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	110kN·m/kg6.14x higher	18kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg16.3x higher	1.55MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)	not sourced
Shear modulus	77.4GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	144GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	5,029m/s	1,246m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)	0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical
Thermal expansion	10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)	80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	52µm growth7.69x less	400µm growth
Specific heat	460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	5mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	5,474W/m	not sourced
Glass transition	not sourced	99°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values for	EOS StainlessSteel 17-4PH IndustryLine (powder 9011-0041), EOS M 290, 40 µm, default job 17-4PH_040_StainlessM291_100, as built, horizontal; ISO 6892 & ASTM E8M	BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM.

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 17-4PH Stainless Steel and FDM HIPS are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel stronger than FDM HIPS?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (46.8x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or FDM HIPS?

FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or FDM HIPS?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or FDM HIPS?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam; FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel	FDM HIPS
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	16.3x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	46% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.53x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	6.14x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	1.7x heavier
Strong panel or plate	11% heavier	lighter

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 17-4PH Stainless Steel or FDM HIPS?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density