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FDM Polycarbonate vs. Stainless 17-4PH

Compare FDM Polycarbonate vs. Stainless 17-4PH strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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FDM Polycarbonate3D printed (FDM)
Stainless 17-4PHWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength53.3MPasourcetypical1,275MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Ultimate tensile strength53.3MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)1,379MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Flexural strength89.4MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Elongation at break9.2%sourcetypical9%sourcetypical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)2.39GPasourcetypical197GPasourceH 900
Density1,180–1,200kg/m³sourcerange7,800kg/m³sourceH 900
Strength to weight44.8kN·m/kg163kN·m/kg3.65x higher
Stiffness to weight2.01MN·m/kg25.3MN·m/kg12.6x higher
Poisson's ratio0.38sourcebase material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)0.272sourceH 900 (column)
Shear modulus0.867GPa77.4GPa89.3x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus3.33GPa144GPa
Speed of sound1,418m/s5,026m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °C17.9W/m·Ksourceat 149 °C (300 °F), H 900
Thermal expansion65µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel10.8µm/m·Ksourcemean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing325µm growth54µm growth6.02x less
Specific heatnot sourced460J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C, H 900
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)not sourced4.99mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance42.5W/m7,809W/m184x more resistant
Glass transition108°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Max service temperature105°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)316°Csourcestrength-retention limit (not oxidation)
Values forUltimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.Cleveland-Cliffs 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, sheet/strip, transverse (Product Data Bulletin, May 2021)

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.

FDM Polycarbonate is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is FDM Polycarbonate stronger than Stainless 17-4PH?

Stainless 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (23.9x).

Which is lighter, FDM Polycarbonate or Stainless 17-4PH?

FDM Polycarbonate is lighter: 1,190 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Stainless 17-4PH.

Which is stiffer, FDM Polycarbonate or Stainless 17-4PH?

Stainless 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in Stainless 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM Polycarbonate or Stainless 17-4PH?

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

Part that must beFDM PolycarbonateStainless 17-4PH
Stiff rod or tie (tension)12.6x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)38% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter1.51x heavier
Strong rod or tie3.65x heavierlighter
Strong beam27% heavierlighter
Strong panel or platelighter34% 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, FDM Polycarbonate or Stainless 17-4PH?

Stainless 17-4PH conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.2 W/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which expands less with temperature?

Stainless 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 65 µm/m·K for FDM Polycarbonate.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Aluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelFDM PolycarbonateStainless 17-4PH
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Aluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickFDM PolycarbonateStainless 17-4PH
Strength against density

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