DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal	45MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C
Ultimate tensile strength	640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal	not sourced
Flexural strength	not sourced	65MPasourcetypical, 23 °C
Elongation at break	40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal	10%sourcenominal strain at break, 23 °C
Young's modulus (stiffness)	185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)	2.3GPasourcetypical
Density	7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine	1,040kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	67.1kN·m/kg1.55x higher	43.3kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	23.4MN·m/kg10.6x higher	2.21MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value	0.39sourcetypical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
Shear modulus	71.2GPa86x stiffer in shear	0.827GPa
Bulk modulus	154GPa	3.48GPa
Speed of sound	4,839m/s	1,487m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C	0.17W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion	15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228	80–110µm/m·Ksourcerange
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	78.6µm growth6.04x less	475µm growth
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/m96.8x more resistant	21.4W/m
Max service temperature	not sourced	94°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)
Values for	EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1	INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)

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 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 45 MPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) (11.8x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), 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 Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie; Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	DMLS 316L Stainless Steel	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	10.6x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	18% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.76x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.55x heavier
Strong beam	47% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	2.21x 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 conducts heat better, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density