DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Stainless Steel 316

Compare DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium vs. Stainless Steel 316 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)	265MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet
Ultimate tensile strength	1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)	583MPasourcetypical (representative), annealed 1.0 mm sheet
Elongation at break	8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)	61%sourcetypical (representative), annealed, in 2 in. (51 mm)
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	200GPasourcetypical, in tension
Density	4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400	8,027kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight	250kN·m/kg7.57x higher	33kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25MN·m/kg	24.9MN·m/kg
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	4,992m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C	14.6W/m·Ksource20–100 °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)	16.5µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	45µm growth1.83x less	82.5µm growth
Specific heat	580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C	450J/kg·Ksourceat 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	2.59mm²/s	4.04mm²/s1.56x faster
Thermal shock resistance	4,825W/m5.88x more resistant	821W/m
Melting point	1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)	1,390–1,440°Csourcemelting range
Max service temperature	not sourced	871–899°Csourceoxidation (scaling) limit in air
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	ATI 316 (UNS S31600), annealed 1.0 mm sheet, ATI technical data sheet (2012); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual

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 316?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 265 MPa for Stainless Steel 316 (4.15x).

Which is lighter, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Stainless Steel 316?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter: 4,400 kg/m³ against 8,027 kg/m³ for Stainless Steel 316.

Which is stiffer, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Stainless Steel 316?

Stainless Steel 316 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 110 GPa for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium, so the same part in Stainless Steel 316 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium or Stainless Steel 316?

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.

Part that must be	DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium	Stainless Steel 316
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	about equal	about equal
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	35% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	49% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	7.57x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	4.71x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	3.72x 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 316?

Stainless Steel 316 conducts heat better: 14.6 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 16.5 µm/m·K for Stainless Steel 316.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density