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DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. PCB Laminate FR-4

Compare DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. PCB Laminate FR-4 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
PCB Laminate FR-4Composite
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Mechanical
Yield strength861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)246–385MPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D3039)
Flexural strengthnot sourced531–621MPasourcetypical: cross direction .. length direction (IPC-TM-650 2.4.4B)
Elongation at break19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontalnot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)21.9–25.8GPasourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction (ASTM D790-15e2)
Density7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)1,920kg/m³sourcetypical, 50% resin content; another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR
Strength to weight110kN·m/kg164kN·m/kg49% higher
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg2.03x higher12.4MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)0.171–0.177sourcetypical, in-plane: cross direction .. length direction
Shear modulus77.4GPa7.62x stiffer in shear10.2GPa
Bulk modulus144GPa12.2GPa
Speed of sound5,029m/s3,525m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)0.4W/m·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1952); direction not stated by the sheet
Thermal expansion10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)13–14µm/m·Ksourcetypical, in-plane X/Y-axis, below Tg (IPC-TM-650 2.4.24C)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing52µm growth30% less67.5µm growth
Specific heat460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)1,200–1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical (ASTM E1461); another FR-4 producer: Park Nelco N4000-6 (high-Tg multifunctional epoxy), not Isola 370HR
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)5mm²/s31.2x faster0.16mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance5,474W/m16.9x more resistant324W/m
Glass transitionnot sourced180°Csourcetypical, DSC (IPC-TM-650 2.4.25C)
Max service temperaturenot sourced130°CsourceUL Relative Thermal Index (UL 796)
Values forEOS 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 E8MIsola 370HR FR-4 laminate (Polyclad PCL-FR-370HR, 180 C Tg multifunctional epoxy, E-glass fabric), copper removed; Isola data sheet Revision C, last updated April 15, 2021. Woven-glass laminate: the sheet gives in-plane values per weave direction (length / cross) and the Z-axis CTE separately; the solver is isotropic per material.

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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel stronger than PCB Laminate FR-4?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against tensile strength 315 MPa for PCB Laminate FR-4 (2.73x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or PCB Laminate FR-4?

PCB Laminate FR-4 is lighter: 1,920 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or PCB Laminate FR-4?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 23.9 GPa for PCB Laminate FR-4, 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 PCB Laminate FR-4?

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

Part that must beDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2.03x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)41% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2.01x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie49% heavierlighter
Strong beam2.08x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.46x heavierlighter

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 PCB Laminate FR-4?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.4 W/m·K for PCB Laminate FR-4.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 13.5 µm/m·K for PCB Laminate FR-4.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 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 AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelBrickSiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4
Strength against density

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