Materials / Compare
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Steel
Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. 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 | 530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) |
| Elongation at break | 40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet) | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) |
| Density | 7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) |
| Strength to weight | 67.1kN·m/kg37% higher | 49kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 23.4MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg9% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) |
| Shear modulus | 71.2GPa | 76.9GPa8% stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 154GPa | 167GPa |
| Speed of sound | 4,839m/s | 5,048m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228 | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 78.6µm growth | 60µm growth31% less |
| Specific heat | 500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 4.1mm²/s | 13mm²/s3.17x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 2,067W/m | 5,390W/m2.61x more resistant |
| Values for | EOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1 | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. |
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 DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stronger than Steel?
DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 385 MPa for Steel (38%).
Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel?
Steel is lighter: 7,850 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.
Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 185 GPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
| Part that must be | DMLS 316L Stainless Steel | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 9% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 3% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 37% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 23% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 17% 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, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 15.7 µm/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.