DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 304

Compare DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 304 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)	241MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C)
Ultimate tensile strength	886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)	586MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C)
Elongation at break	19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal	55%sourcetypical, annealed, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)	197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)	193GPasourcetypical, in tension
Density	7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)	8,030kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	110kN·m/kg3.68x higher	30kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg5% higher	24MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)	0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels)
Shear modulus	77.4GPa4% stiffer in shear	74.2GPa
Bulk modulus	144GPa	161GPa
Speed of sound	5,029m/s	4,903m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)	16.2W/m·Ksourceat 100 °C
Thermal expansion	10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)	16.9µm/m·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	52µm growth1.63x less	84.5µm growth
Specific heat	460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)	500J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	5mm²/s24% faster	4.03mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	5,474W/m6.53x more resistant	838W/m
Melting point	not sourced	1,399–1,454°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature	not sourced	899°Csourcecontinuous, oxidation (scaling) limit in air
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	Type 304, annealed flat-rolled (Cleveland-Cliffs 304/304L Product Data Bulletin, May 2021); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual

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 Stainless Steel 304?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 241 MPa for Stainless Steel 304 (3.57x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 304?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter: 7,790 kg/m³ against 8,030 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 304.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 304?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 193 GPa for Stainless Steel 304, 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 Stainless Steel 304?

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

Part that must be	DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel 304
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	5% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	4% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	4% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	3.68x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	2.41x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	1.95x 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 Stainless Steel 304?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 304.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 304.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density