Materials / Compare
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72) | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72) | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs) | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369) | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 110kN·m/kg39% higher | 79.6kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg8.16x higher | 3.1MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs) | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | 77.4GPa61.9x stiffer in shear | 1.25GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 144GPa | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,029m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs) | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published) | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 52µm growth9.81x less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | 460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs) | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 5mm²/s29.1x faster | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 5,474W/m110x more resistant | 49.9W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| 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 Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) |
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 Plastic Nylon PA6?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 90 MPa for Plastic Nylon PA6 (9.56x).
Which is lighter, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter: 1,130 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.
Which is stiffer, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Plastic Nylon PA6?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 3.5 GPa for Plastic Nylon PA6, 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 Nylon PA6?
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; Plastic Nylon PA6 is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 8.16x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 9% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | 1.8x heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 39% heavier |
| Strong beam | 1.53x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 2.23x 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 Nylon PA6?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.33 W/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.
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