DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic PLA

Compare DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic PLA 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)	52.5MPasourcetypical
Ultimate tensile strength	886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)	52.5MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)
Flexural strength	not sourced	96.8MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal	7.8%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)	3.25GPasourcetypical
Density	7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)	1,240kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	110kN·m/kg2.61x higher	42.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg9.65x higher	2.62MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)	not sourced
Shear modulus	77.4GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	144GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	5,029m/s	1,619m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)	0.13W/m·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C
Thermal expansion	10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	52µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)	1,200J/kg·Ksourcebase material: NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, amorphous sheet, 25 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	5mm²/s57.2x faster	0.0874mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	5,474W/m	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	152°Csourcetypical
Glass transition	not sourced	59.1°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	58.8°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 PLA, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat) orientation; 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 dated 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 PLA 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 PLA?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 52.5 MPa for Plastic PLA (16.4x).

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

Plastic PLA is lighter: 1,240 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

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

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 3.25 GPa for Plastic PLA, 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 PLA?

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 PLA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel	Plastic PLA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	9.65x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	24% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.6x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	2.61x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	3% heavier
Strong panel or plate	1.55x 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 PLA?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.13 W/m·K for Plastic PLA.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density