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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Magnesium AZ91D

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Magnesium AZ91D strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Magnesium AZ91DCast
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Mechanical
Yield strength530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal150MPasourcetypical, 0.2% tensile yield, ambient temperature
Ultimate tensile strength640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal230MPasourcetypical, ambient temperature
Elongation at break40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal3%sourcetypical, ambient temperature
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)45GPasourcetypical
Density7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine1,810kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg82.9kN·m/kg24% higher
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg24.9MN·m/kg6% higher
Poisson's ratio0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value0.35sourcebase material: AZ91C casting (MIL-HDBK-5J handbook physical constant)
Shear modulus71.2GPa4.27x stiffer in shear16.7GPa
Bulk modulus154GPa50GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s4,986m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C72W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22825µm/m·Ksourcetypical, temperature range not stated
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth1.59x less125µm growth
Specific heat500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C1,050J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s37.9mm²/s9.24x faster
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m6,240W/m3.02x more resistant
Melting pointnot sourced470–595°Csourcemelting range
Values forEOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1ELEKTRON AZ91D magnesium die-casting alloy, as cast; Magnesium Elektron datasheet 475 (7/01), typical properties; Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J for AZ91C castings.

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 AZ91D?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 150 MPa for Magnesium AZ91D (3.53x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Magnesium AZ91D?

Magnesium AZ91D is lighter: 1,810 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Magnesium AZ91D?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 45 GPa for Magnesium AZ91D, 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 AZ91D?

For the same stiffness or strength: Magnesium AZ91D 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 AZ91D
Stiff rod or tie (tension)6% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)2.15x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2.72x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie24% heavierlighter
Strong beam1.88x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.32x 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 AZ91D?

Magnesium AZ91D conducts heat better: 72 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 25 µm/m·K for Magnesium AZ91D.

Among 72 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 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 316L Stainless SteelMagnesium AZ91D
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 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 SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Solder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 316L Stainless SteelMagnesium AZ91D
Strength against density

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