Materials / Compare
Plastic PEEK vs. DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Compare Plastic PEEK vs. DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 98MPasourcetypical, tensile yield | 861MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 886MPasourcemean, as built, horizontal (N=72) |
| Compressive strength | 125MPasourcetypical, 23 C | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 165MPasourcetypical, flexural stress at yield, 23 C | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 25%sourcetypical, at break | 19.9%sourcemean at break, as built, horizontal |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 4GPasourcetypical (nominal) | 197GPasourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900 (Cleveland-Cliffs) |
| Density | 1,300kg/m³sourcetypical (crystalline) | 7,790kg/m³sourcemean part density (ISO 3369) |
| Strength to weight | 75.4kN·m/kg | 110kN·m/kg47% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 3.08MN·m/kg | 25.3MN·m/kg8.22x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.38sourcetypical | 0.272sourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, all conditions (Cleveland-Cliffs) |
| Shear modulus | 1.45GPa | 77.4GPa53.4x stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 5.56GPa | 144GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,754m/s | 5,029m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.29W/m·Ksourcetypical, average, 23 C | 17.9W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition H 900, at 149 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs) |
| Thermal expansion | 55µm/m·Ksourceaverage of flow/cross-flow, below Tg (<143 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 | 275µm growth | 52µm growth5.29x less |
| Specific heat | 2,200J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 23 °C, DSC (Victrex PEEK 450G TDS, revision Jul 2012) | 460J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 17-4 PH, Condition A, 0-100 °C (Cleveland-Cliffs) |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.101mm²/s | 5mm²/s49.3x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 80.1W/m | 5,474W/m68.3x more resistant |
| Melting point | 343°Csourcetypical, DSC | not sourced |
| Glass transition | 143°Csourceonset (midpoint 150 C) | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 240°CsourceUL 746B RTI, mechanical strength (continuous use index) | not sourced |
| Values for | Victrex PEEK 450G (unreinforced, injection moulded), Victrex TDS rev. March 2026; Poisson from Victrex fluid-management flyer (2020-07) | 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 Plastic PEEK stronger than DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 861 MPa against 98 MPa for Plastic PEEK (8.78x).
Which is lighter, Plastic PEEK or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
Plastic PEEK is lighter: 1,300 kg/m³ against 7,790 kg/m³ for DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel.
Which is stiffer, Plastic PEEK or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 4 GPa for Plastic PEEK, so the same part in DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PEEK or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PEEK is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong beam, strong panel or plate; DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie.
| Part that must be | Plastic PEEK | DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 8.22x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 17% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.63x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 47% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | lighter | 41% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2.02x 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, Plastic PEEK or DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.29 W/m·K for Plastic PEEK.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel expands less: 10.4 µm/m·K against 55 µm/m·K for Plastic PEEK.
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