DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. FDM Polycarbonate

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

Change either side

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

Mechanical
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)	53.3MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)	53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength	not sourced	89.4MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal	9.2%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)	2.39GPasourcetypical
Density	7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)	1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange
Strength to weight	110kN·m/kg2.47x higher	44.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg12.6x higher	2.01MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)	0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	77.4GPa89.3x stiffer in shear	0.867GPa
Bulk modulus	144GPa	3.33GPa
Speed of sound	5,029m/s	1,418m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)	0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C
Thermal expansion	10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)	65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	52µm growth6.25x less	325µm 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/m129x more resistant	42.5W/m
Glass transition	not sourced	108°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
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	Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.

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 Polycarbonate 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 Polycarbonate?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (16.1x).

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

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

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

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, 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 Polycarbonate?

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; FDM Polycarbonate is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel	FDM Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	12.6x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	39% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.51x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	2.47x heavier
Strong beam	2% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	1.63x 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 Polycarbonate?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density