DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD
Yield strength	530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal1.96x stronger	270MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Ultimate tensile strength	640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal42% stronger	450MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal
Elongation at break	40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal3.92x more ductile	10.2%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal
Young's modulus (stiffness)	185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)	72GPasourcesame material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY)
Density	7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine	2,670kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm)
Strength to weight	67.1kN·m/kg	101kN·m/kg1.51x higher
Stiffness to weight	23.4MN·m/kg	27MN·m/kg15% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value	0.33sourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000)
Shear modulus	71.2GPa2.63x stiffer in shear	27.1GPa
Bulk modulus	154GPa	70.6GPa
Speed of sound	4,839m/s	5,193m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C	110W/m·Ksourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2)
Thermal expansion	15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22827% less	20µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	78.6µm growth27% less	100µm growth
Specific heat	500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C	963J/kg·Ksourcebase material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	4.1mm²/s	42.8mm²/s10.4x faster
Thermal shock resistance	2,067W/m	13,819W/m6.69x more resistant
Values for	EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1	EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 \| 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10

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 316L Stainless Steel and DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stronger than DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 270 MPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum (1.96x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 72 GPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum, so the same part in DMLS 316L Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum 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 316L Stainless Steel	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	15% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	1.85x heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.16x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	1.51x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	1.89x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	2.11x 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 is more ductile, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stretches further before it breaks: 40% elongation at break against 10.2% for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Which conducts heat better, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum conducts heat better: 110 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 20 µm/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density