DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. SLS PA12 Nylon 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	48MPasourcetypical
Elongation at break	40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal	18%sourcetypical
Young's modulus (stiffness)	185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)	1.65GPasourcetypical
Density	7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine	930kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	67.1kN·m/kg30% higher	51.6kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	23.4MN·m/kg13.2x higher	1.77MN·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	1,332m/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	176°Csourcetypical
Max service temperature	not sourced	64°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
Values for	EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1	EOS PA 2200 (PA12) Material Data Sheet, process parameter 'Balance' at 120 µm layer thickness, X orientation, dry (conditioned values not given). Live MDS status 04.10.2026, last changed 10.09.2026; PDF via ?topdf=... link on the same page.

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 SLS PA12 Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against tensile strength 48 MPa for SLS PA12 Nylon (11x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or SLS PA12 Nylon?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 185 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, 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 SLS PA12 Nylon?

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; SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	DMLS 316L Stainless Steel	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	13.2x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	25% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	1.76x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	30% heavier
Strong beam	1.71x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	2.56x 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 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density