Nickel Inconel 718 vs. DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel

Compare Nickel Inconel 718 vs. DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical
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Yield strength	1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset	861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)
Ultimate tensile strength	1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar	886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72)
Elongation at break	20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar	19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal
Young's modulus (stiffness)	200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged	197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs)
Density	8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged	7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369)
Strength to weight	147kN·m/kg33% higher	110kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	24.3MN·m/kg	25.3MN·m/kg4% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged	0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs)
Shear modulus	77.3GPa	77.4GPa
Bulk modulus	162GPa	144GPa
Speed of sound	4,932m/s	5,029m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity	11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)	17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)
Thermal expansion	13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged	10.4µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228, AFTER atmospheric heat treatment (as-built value not published)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	66µm growth	52µm growth27% less
Specific heat	435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C	460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	3.19mm²/s	5mm²/s1.57x faster
Thermal shock resistance	3,680W/m	5,474W/m49% more resistant
Melting point	1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range	not sourced
Max service temperature	704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer	not sourced
Values for	INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values	EOS StainlessSteel 17-4PH IndustryLine (powder 9011-0041), EOS M 290, 40 µm, default job 17-4PH_040_StainlessM291_100, as built, horizontal; ISO 6892 & ASTM E8M

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 17-4PH Stainless Steel is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Nickel Inconel 718 stronger than DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 861 MPa for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel (40%).

Which is lighter, Nickel Inconel 718 or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter: 7,790 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which is stiffer, Nickel Inconel 718 or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 197 GPa for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Nickel Inconel 718 or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

For the same stiffness or strength: Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	Nickel Inconel 718	DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	4% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	5% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	5% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	33% heavier
Strong beam	lighter	19% heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	12% 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, Nickel Inconel 718 or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 11.4 W/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 13.2 µm/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.

Among 59 materials

Stiffness against density

Strength against density