Materials / Compare
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Iron
Compare DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Iron strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400) | 186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400) | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Elongation at break | 8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400) | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Density | 4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400 | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 250kN·m/kg10.6x higher | 23.7kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25MN·m/kg | 26.3MN·m/kg5% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) |
| Shear modulus | 41GPa | 80.7GPa1.97x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 116GPa | 158GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,000m/s | 5,132m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 9µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228; EOS Ti64 Grade 23 (=ELI) on EOS M 290 40 µm; condition not stated (sheet's mechanical data are heat treated) | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 45µm growth1.52x less | 68.5µm growth |
| Specific heat | 580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 2.59mm²/s | 20.7mm²/s8x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 4,825W/m40% more resistant | 3,447W/m |
| Melting point | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level) | 1,532°Csourcetypical |
| Values for | EOS Titanium Ti64ELI (powder 9011-0040; ASTM F136/F3001, i.e. Grade 23) on EOS M400 SF, parameter set Ti64ELI_030_FlexM400_100, 30 µm, as built; ISO 6892-1 A14 | Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal. |
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 Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium stronger than Iron?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 186 MPa for Iron (5.91x).
Which is lighter, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Iron?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter: 4,400 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 110 GPa for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Iron is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension).
| Part that must be | DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium | Iron |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 30% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 45% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 10.6x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 5.84x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 4.34x 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 Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Iron?
Iron conducts heat better: 73.2 W/m·K against 6.6 W/m·K for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 13.7 µm/m·K for Iron.