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DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Plastic PTFE

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

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DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Plastic PTFEBulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)9MPasourcetypical yield strength at 23 °C (Teflon PTFE, Table 8)
Ultimate tensile strength886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)39.3MPasourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm
Elongation at break19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal350%sourcetypical, skived tape 0.13 mm
Young's modulus (stiffness)197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)not sourced
Density7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)2,160kg/m³sourcetypical (standard specific gravity, ASTM D4894)
Strength to weight110kN·m/kg26.5x higher4.17kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight25.3MN·m/kgnot sourced
Poisson's ratio0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)0.46sourcetypical, 23 °C (Teflon PTFE resins, Chemours handbook)
Shear modulus77.4GPanot sourced
Bulk modulus144GPanot sourced
Speed of sound5,029m/snot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)0.25W/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 4.6 mm specimen
Thermal expansion10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)100µm/m·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 23-60 °C (ASTM E228)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing52µm growth9.62x less500µm growth
Specific heat460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)1,400J/kg·Ksourcetypical, granular resin, 20 °C (ASTM D4591)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)5mm²/s60.4x faster0.0827mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance5,474W/mnot sourced
Melting pointnot sourced327°Csourcesecond melting peak (sintered polymer), +/-10
Max service temperaturenot sourced260°Csourceservice temperature (Chemours general Teflon PTFE statement)
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 E8MChemours Teflon PTFE 7C X granular molding resin, typical values (tensile/elongation measured on 0.13 mm skived tape)

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 PTFE?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 9 MPa for Plastic PTFE (95.6x).

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

Plastic PTFE is lighter: 2,160 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Plastic PTFE?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PTFE
Strong rod or tielighter26.5x heavier
Strong beamlighter5.8x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.71x heavier

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 PTFE?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.25 W/m·K for Plastic PTFE.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 100 µm/m·K for Plastic PTFE.

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 PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
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 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 SteelBrickDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PTFE
Strength against density

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