DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic ABS

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

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

Mechanical
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Yield strength	861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)	38.1MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)	38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength	not sourced	61.1MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal	4.6%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)	1.96GPasourcetypical
Density	7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)	1,100kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	110kN·m/kg3.19x higher	34.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg14.2x higher	1.78MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)	0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	77.4GPa110x stiffer in shear	0.706GPa
Bulk modulus	144GPa	2.97GPa
Speed of sound	5,029m/s	1,336m/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 Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical
Thermal expansion	10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)	80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	52µm growth9.13x less	475µm 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/m258x more resistant	21.2W/m
Glass transition	not sourced	101°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	86.6°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 ABS, 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 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 Plastic ABS 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 Plastic ABS?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 38.1 MPa for Plastic ABS (22.6x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Plastic ABS?

Plastic ABS is lighter: 1,100 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Plastic ABS?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, 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 Plastic ABS?

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; Plastic ABS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel	Plastic ABS
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	14.2x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	41% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.52x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	3.19x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	13% heavier
Strong panel or plate	49% 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 Plastic ABS?

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

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density