Materials / Compare
Stainless 303 vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel
Compare Stainless 303 vs. DMLS 316L Stainless Steel strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 275MPasourceOutokumpu typical (product P = hot rolled plate, transverse) | 530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 585MPasourceOutokumpu typical | 640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Elongation at break | 35%sourceOutokumpu typical, A5 | 40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourceat RT (Table 12) | 185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet) |
| Density | 7,900kg/m³sourceat RT | 7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine |
| Strength to weight | 34.8kN·m/kg | 67.1kN·m/kg1.93x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.3MN·m/kg8% higher | 23.4MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) | 0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value |
| Shear modulus | 76.9GPa8% stiffer in shear | 71.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 167GPa | 154GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,032m/s | 4,839m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 15W/m·Ksourceat RT | 16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 16µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20–100 °C | 15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 80µm growth | 78.6µm growth2% less |
| Specific heat | 500J/kg·Ksourceat RT | 500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 3.8mm²/s | 4.1mm²/s8% faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 902W/m | 2,067W/m2.29x more resistant |
| Max service temperature | 871°Csourcecontinuous, scaling limit | not sourced |
| Values for | 1.4305 / UNS S30300, Outokumpu typical values (hot rolled, solution annealed) from 'Steel Grades, Properties and Global Standards'; max service from Carpenter CarTech 303 datasheet | EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1 |
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 316L Stainless Steel is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Stainless 303 stronger than DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 275 MPa for Stainless 303 (1.93x).
Which is lighter, Stainless 303 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
Stainless 303 is lighter: 7,900 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.
Which is stiffer, Stainless 303 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
Stainless 303 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 185 GPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel, so the same part in Stainless 303 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Stainless 303 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Stainless 303 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Stainless 303 | DMLS 316L Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 8% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 4% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 3% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 1.93x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.55x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 39% 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, Stainless 303 or DMLS 316L Stainless Steel?
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 15 W/m·K for Stainless 303.
Which expands less with temperature?
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel expands less: 15.7 µm/m·K against 16 µm/m·K for Stainless 303.