Materials / Compare

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Plastic PPS GF40

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Plastic PPS GF40 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Plastic PPS GF40Bulk polymer (molded or machined)
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Mechanical
Yield strength530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontalnot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal195MPasourcetensile strength, 5 mm/min
Flexural strengthnot sourced285MPasourceflexural strength at break
Elongation at break40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal1.9%sourcestrain at break, 5 mm/min
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)14.7GPasourcetypical, 1 mm/min
Density7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine1,650kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg118kN·m/kg1.76x higher
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg2.63x higher8.91MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value0.35sourceglass-reinforced Fortron PPS (class value, not grade-specific)
Shear modulus71.2GPa13.1x stiffer in shear5.44GPa
Bulk modulus154GPa16.3GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s2,985m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C0.2W/m·Ksource40% glass-reinforced Fortron, 25 °C (not grade-specific)
Thermal expansion15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22812µm/m·Ksourceparallel (flow), mean -50 to 90 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth60µm growth31% less
Specific heat500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °Cnot sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m14.4x more resistant144W/m
Melting pointnot sourced280°CsourceDSC, 10 °C/min
Glass transitionnot sourced90°CsourceDSC, 10 °C/min
Max service temperaturenot sourced270°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa
Values forEOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1Celanese Fortron 1140L4 (PPS, 40% glass fibre), injection moulding; FORTRON PPS Short-Term Properties Guide (PPS-012, 2016); thermal conductivity and Poisson for 40% glass-reinforced Fortron from the Fortron PPS Design Manual (PPS-050, 2013).

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 PPS GF40?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against tensile strength 195 MPa for Plastic PPS GF40 (2.72x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Plastic PPS GF40?

Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter: 1,650 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Plastic PPS GF40?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 14.7 GPa for Plastic PPS GF40, 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 PPS GF40?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); Plastic PPS GF40 is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelPlastic PPS GF40
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2.63x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)35% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate2.06x heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie1.76x heavierlighter
Strong beam2.46x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.9x 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 Plastic PPS GF40?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for Plastic PPS GF40.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic PPS GF40 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 15.7 µm/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

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 ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 316L Stainless SteelPlastic PPS GF40
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 ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic LCP GF30DMLS 316L Stainless SteelPlastic PPS GF40
Strength against density

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