Materials / Compare

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic PMMA

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

Change either side
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Plastic PMMABulk polymer (molded or machined)
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strength861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C
Compressive strengthnot sourced110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical
Flexural strengthnot sourced115MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal5.5%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term
Density7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)1,190kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight110kN·m/kg1.64x higher67.2kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kg9.12x higher2.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)0.37sourcetypical
Shear modulus77.4GPa64.3x stiffer in shear1.2GPa
Bulk modulus144GPa4.23GPa
Speed of sound5,029m/s1,665m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing52µm growth6.73x less350µm growth
Specific heat460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)5mm²/s46x faster0.109mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance5,474W/m132x more resistant41.5W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourced80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature
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 E8MRöhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1)

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 PMMA?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against tensile strength 80 MPa for Plastic PMMA (10.8x).

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

Plastic PMMA is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

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

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 3.3 GPa for Plastic PMMA, 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 PMMA?

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 PMMA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PMMA
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter9.12x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter18% heavier
Stiff panel or plate1.67x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter1.64x heavier
Strong beam34% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2x 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 PMMA?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.19 W/m·K for Plastic PMMA.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 70 µm/m·K for Plastic PMMA.

Among 59 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 PolypropyleneFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PMMA
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 PolypropyleneFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelBrickDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PMMA
Strength against density

Related comparisons