Materials / Compare

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Magnesium AZ31B-H24

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Magnesium AZ31B-H24 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Change either side
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Magnesium AZ31B-H24Wrought
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browserOpen in LessCADOpen in LessCAD
Mechanical
Yield strength530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal220MPasourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm, 0.2 % proof stress
Ultimate tensile strength640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal290MPasourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm
Elongation at break40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal13%sourcetypical, H24, 0.5-6 mm, gauge 5.65√A
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)44.8GPasourcetypical (handbook physical constant)
Density7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine1,769kg/m³sourcenominal
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg124kN·m/kg1.85x higher
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg25.3MN·m/kg8% higher
Poisson's ratio0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value0.35sourcetypical (handbook physical constant)
Shear modulus71.2GPa4.29x stiffer in shear16.6GPa
Bulk modulus154GPa49.8GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s5,032m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C76.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (temper/temperature not stated)
Thermal expansion15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22826.8µm/m·Ksourcetypical (temperature range not stated)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth1.7x less134µm growth
Specific heat500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C1,040J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s41.8mm²/s10.2x faster
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m9,159W/m4.43x more resistant
Max service temperaturenot sourced149°Csourcestated application limit
Values forEOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1AZ31B-H24 sheet 0.016-0.062 in., MIL-HDBK-5J Table 4.2.1.0(b) (AMS 4377); strengths are S-basis MINIMUMS

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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stronger than Magnesium AZ31B-H24?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 220 MPa for Magnesium AZ31B-H24 (2.41x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?

Magnesium AZ31B-H24 is lighter: 1,769 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 44.8 GPa for Magnesium AZ31B-H24, 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 Magnesium AZ31B-H24?

For the same stiffness or strength: Magnesium AZ31B-H24 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 beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelMagnesium AZ31B-H24
Stiff rod or tie (tension)8% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)2.2x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2.78x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie1.85x heavierlighter
Strong beam2.49x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.88x 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 316L Stainless Steel or Magnesium AZ31B-H24?

Magnesium AZ31B-H24 conducts heat better: 76.9 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 26.8 µm/m·K for Magnesium AZ31B-H24.

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 718Zinc 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 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS 316L Stainless SteelMagnesium AZ31B-H24
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 718Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickDMLS 316L Stainless SteelMagnesium AZ31B-H24
Strength against density

Related comparisons