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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Steel AISI 4340

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Steel AISI 4340 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Steel AISI 4340Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal1,035MPasourcetypical, transverse
Ultimate tensile strength640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal1,140MPasourcetypical, transverse
Elongation at break40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal18%sourcetypical, transverse
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)200GPasourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
Density7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine7,840kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg132kN·m/kg1.97x higher
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg25.5MN·m/kg9% higher
Poisson's ratio0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value0.32sourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
Shear modulus71.2GPa75.7GPa6% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus154GPa185GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s5,049m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C37.5W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22811.3µm/m·Ksourcemean, -18 to 93 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth56.5µm growth39% less
Specific heat500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C448J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s10.7mm²/s2.6x faster
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m11,678W/m5.65x more resistant
Values forEOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1Carpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level

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 AISI 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,035 MPa against 530 MPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel (1.95x).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel AISI 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 is lighter: 7,840 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel AISI 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 185 GPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel, so the same part in Steel AISI 4340 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel AISI 4340?

For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 4340 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelSteel AISI 4340
Stiff rod or tie (tension)9% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)5% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate3% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie1.97x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.57x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate41% heavierlighter

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 AISI 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 conducts heat better: 37.5 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel AISI 4340 expands less: 11.3 µm/m·K against 15.7 µm/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

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 A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 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 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS 316L Stainless SteelSteel AISI 4340
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 A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 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 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickDMLS 316L Stainless SteelSteel AISI 4340
Strength against density

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