DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. FDM PAHT-CF

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. FDM PAHT-CF strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal	92MPasourcetypical
Flexural strength	not sourced	125MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal	8.4%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)	3.86GPasourcetypical
Density	7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine	1,060kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	67.1kN·m/kg	86.8kN·m/kg29% higher
Stiffness to weight	23.4MN·m/kg6.43x higher	3.64MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value	not sourced
Shear modulus	71.2GPa	not sourced
Bulk modulus	154GPa	not sourced
Speed of sound	4,839m/s	1,908m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C	not sourced
Thermal expansion	15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	78.6µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	4.1mm²/s	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	2,067W/m	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	225°Csourcetypical
Glass transition	not sourced	70°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	170°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values for	EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1	Bambu Lab PAHT-CF, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y, dry state; nozzle 290 °C, bed 100 °C, 100 mm/s, 100% infill; annealed and dried 80 °C for 12 h before testing.

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 FDM PAHT-CF are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stronger than FDM PAHT-CF?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against tensile strength 92 MPa for FDM PAHT-CF (5.76x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or FDM PAHT-CF?

FDM PAHT-CF is lighter: 1,060 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or FDM PAHT-CF?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 3.86 GPa for FDM PAHT-CF, 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 FDM PAHT-CF?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); FDM PAHT-CF is lighter for a 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	FDM PAHT-CF
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	6.43x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	8% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.05x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	29% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	2.32x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	3.11x 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).

Among 72 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density