DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Stainless Steel 303

Compare DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Stainless Steel 303 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)	275MPasourceOutokumpu typical (product P = hot rolled plate, transverse)
Ultimate tensile strength	1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)	585MPasourceOutokumpu typical
Elongation at break	8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)	35%sourceOutokumpu typical, A5
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	200GPasourceat RT (Table 12)
Density	4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400	7,900kg/m³sourceat RT
Strength to weight	250kN·m/kg7.18x higher	34.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25MN·m/kg	25.3MN·m/kg1% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured	0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels)
Shear modulus	41GPa	76.9GPa1.88x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	116GPa	167GPa
Speed of sound	5,000m/s	5,032m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C	15W/m·Ksourceat RT
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)	16µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	45µm growth1.78x less	80µm growth
Specific heat	580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C	500J/kg·Ksourceat RT
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	2.59mm²/s	3.8mm²/s47% faster
Thermal shock resistance	4,825W/m5.35x more resistant	902W/m
Melting point	1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)	not sourced
Max service temperature	not sourced	871°Csourcecontinuous, scaling limit
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	1.4305 / 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 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 Stainless Steel 303?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 275 MPa for Stainless Steel 303 (4x).

Which is lighter, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Stainless Steel 303?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter: 4,400 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 303.

Which is stiffer, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Stainless Steel 303?

Stainless Steel 303 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 110 GPa for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium, so the same part in Stainless Steel 303 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Stainless Steel 303?

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; Stainless Steel 303 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension).

Part that must be	DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium	Stainless Steel 303
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	1% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	33% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	47% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	7.18x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	4.52x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	3.59x 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 Stainless Steel 303?

Stainless Steel 303 conducts heat better: 15 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 16 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 303.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density