Materials / Compare

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic PBT GF30

Compare DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic PBT GF30 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Plastic PBT GF30Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)140MPasourcestress at break, 23 °C
Flexural strengthnot sourced210MPasourcetypical, 23 °C
Elongation at break19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal3%sourcestrain at break, 23 °C
Young's modulus (stiffness)197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)9.8GPasourcetypical, 23 °C
Density7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)1,530kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight110kN·m/kg21% higher91.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg3.95x higher6.41MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)not sourced
Shear modulus77.4GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus144GPanot sourced
Speed of sound5,029m/s2,531m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)0.27W/m·Ksourcetypical (DIN 52612-1)
Thermal expansion10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)25µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal (flow), mean 23-55 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing52µm growth2.4x less125µm growth
Specific heat460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)1,050J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 23 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)5mm²/s29.7x faster0.168mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance5,474W/mnot sourced
Melting pointnot sourced223°CsourceDSC (ISO 11357)
Max service temperaturenot sourced205°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
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 E8MBASF Ultradur B 4300 G6 (PBT, 30% glass fibre), injection moulding grade; product information sheet 09/2026, typical values for uncoloured product at 23 °C.

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 PBT GF30?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against tensile strength 140 MPa for Plastic PBT GF30 (6.15x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Plastic PBT GF30?

Plastic PBT GF30 is lighter: 1,530 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Plastic PBT GF30?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 9.8 GPa for Plastic PBT GF30, 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 PBT GF30?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie; Plastic PBT GF30 is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PBT GF30
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter3.95x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)14% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate1.87x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter21% heavier
Strong beam1.52x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.05x 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 Plastic PBT GF30?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.27 W/m·K for Plastic PBT GF30.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 25 µm/m·K for Plastic PBT GF30.

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 SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PBT GF30
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 SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PBT GF30
Strength against density

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