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Plastic PETG vs. Stainless 17-4PH

Compare Plastic PETG vs. Stainless 17-4PH strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Plastic PETG3D printed (FDM)
Stainless 17-4PHWrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength46.2MPasourcetypical1,275MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Ultimate tensile strength46.2MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield)1,379MPasourcetypical, transverse, sheet/strip
Flexural strength78.9MPasourcetypicalnot sourced
Elongation at break7.6%sourcetypical9%sourcetypical, transverse, in 2 in. (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)1.94GPasourcetypical197GPasourceH 900
Density1,270kg/m³sourcetypical7,800kg/m³sourceH 900
Strength to weight36.4kN·m/kg163kN·m/kg4.49x higher
Stiffness to weight1.53MN·m/kg25.3MN·m/kg16.5x higher
Poisson's rationot sourced0.272sourceH 900 (column)
Shear modulusnot sourced77.4GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced144GPa
Speed of sound1,236m/s5,026m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.21W/m·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), typical17.9W/m·Ksourceat 149 °C (300 °F), H 900
Thermal expansion51µm/m·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), typical10.8µm/m·Ksourcemean, 21–93 °C (70–200 °F), H 900
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing255µm growth54µm growth4.72x less
Specific heat1,300J/kg·Ksourcebase material: Eastman Eastar Copolyester 6763 (PETG), DSC at 60 °C (lowest temperature listed)460J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C, H 900
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.127mm²/s4.99mm²/s39.2x faster
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced7,809W/m
Glass transition77.4°Csourcetypicalnot sourced
Max service temperature76.2°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)316°Csourcestrength-retention limit (not oxidation)
Values forUltimaker PETG, 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 v1.00, April 29, 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.

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

Questions

Is Plastic PETG stronger than Stainless 17-4PH?

Stainless 17-4PH is stronger: its yield strength is 1,275 MPa against 46.2 MPa for Plastic PETG (27.6x).

Which is lighter, Plastic PETG or Stainless 17-4PH?

Plastic PETG is lighter: 1,270 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Stainless 17-4PH.

Which is stiffer, Plastic PETG or Stainless 17-4PH?

Stainless 17-4PH is stiffer: Young's modulus 197 GPa against 1.94 GPa for Plastic PETG, so the same part in Stainless 17-4PH deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic PETG or Stainless 17-4PH?

For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic PETG 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 bePlastic PETGStainless 17-4PH
Stiff rod or tie (tension)16.5x heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)1.64x heavierlighter
Stiff panel or platelighter32% heavier
Strong rod or tie4.49x heavierlighter
Strong beam49% heavierlighter
Strong panel or platelighter17% 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 PETG or Stainless 17-4PH?

Stainless 17-4PH conducts heat better: 17.9 W/m·K against 0.21 W/m·K for Plastic PETG.

Which expands less with temperature?

Stainless 17-4PH expands less: 10.8 µm/m·K against 51 µm/m·K for Plastic PETG.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic 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 PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPlastic PETGStainless 17-4PH
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic 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 PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPlastic PETGStainless 17-4PH
Strength against density

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