Materials / Compare
Iron vs. DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Compare Iron vs. DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal | 861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal | 886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72) |
| Elongation at break | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 | 19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal | 197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs) |
| Density | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical | 7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369) |
| Strength to weight | 23.7kN·m/kg | 110kN·m/kg4.67x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 26.3MN·m/kg4% higher | 25.3MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) | 0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs) |
| Shear modulus | 80.7GPa4% stiffer in shear | 77.4GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 158GPa | 144GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,132m/s | 5,029m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C | 17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs) |
| Thermal expansion | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C | 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 | 68.5µm growth | 52µm growth32% less |
| Specific heat | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical | 460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 20.7mm²/s4.14x faster | 5mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 3,447W/m | 5,474W/m1.59x more resistant |
| Melting point | 1,532°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Values for | 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. | 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 Iron stronger than DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 186 MPa for Iron (4.63x).
Which is lighter, Iron or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter: 7,790 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, Iron or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 197 GPa for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Iron or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Iron is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending); DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Iron | DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 4% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | about equal | about equal |
| Strong rod or tie | 4.67x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 2.8x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 2.17x heavier | lighter |
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, Iron or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
Iron conducts heat better: 73.2 W/m·K against 17.9 W/m·K for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 13.7 µm/m·K for Iron.