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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 303

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Stainless Steel 303 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Stainless Steel 303Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal275MPasourceOutokumpu typical (product P = hot rolled plate, transverse)
Ultimate tensile strength640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal585MPasourceOutokumpu typical
Elongation at break40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal35%sourceOutokumpu typical, A5
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)200GPasourceat RT (Table 12)
Density7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine7,900kg/m³sourceat RT
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg1.93x higher34.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg25.3MN·m/kg8% higher
Poisson's ratio0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels)
Shear modulus71.2GPa76.9GPa8% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus154GPa167GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s5,032m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C15W/m·Ksourceat RT
Thermal expansion15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22816µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth2% less80µm growth
Specific heat500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C500J/kg·Ksourceat RT
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s8% faster3.8mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m2.29x more resistant902W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourced871°Csourcecontinuous, scaling limit
Values forEOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-11.4305 / UNS S30300, Outokumpu typical values (hot rolled, solution annealed) from 'Steel Grades, Properties and Global Standards'; max service from Carpenter CarTech 303 datasheet

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 Stainless Steel 303?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 275 MPa for Stainless Steel 303 (1.93x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 303?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter: 7,900 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 303.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 303?

Stainless Steel 303 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 185 GPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel, so the same part in Stainless Steel 303 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Stainless Steel 303?

For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Stainless Steel 303 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 303
Stiff rod or tie (tension)8% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)4% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate3% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter1.93x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.55x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter39% heavier

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 Stainless Steel 303?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 15 W/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 16 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.

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 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 SteelDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 303
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 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 SteelBrickDMLS 316L Stainless SteelStainless Steel 303
Strength against density

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