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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Steel A992

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Steel A992 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Steel A992Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC
Ultimate tensile strength640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey)
Elongation at break40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontalnot 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)
Density7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data)
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg37% higher49kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg25.5MN·m/kg9% higher
Poisson's ratio0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary)
Shear modulus71.2GPa76.9GPa8% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus154GPa167GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s5,048m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C
Thermal expansion15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22812µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth60µm growth31% less
Specific heat500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s13mm²/s3.17x faster
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m5,390W/m2.61x more resistant
Values forEOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1ASTM 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 A992?

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 530 MPa against 385 MPa for Steel A992 (38%).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel A992?

Steel A992 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 A992?

Steel A992 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 185 GPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel, so the same part in Steel A992 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel A992?

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 A992 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelSteel A992
Stiff rod or tie (tension)9% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)5% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate3% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tielighter37% heavier
Strong beamlighter23% heavier
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, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel A992?

Steel A992 conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel A992 expands less: 12 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 AISI 4340Stainless 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 A992
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 AISI 4340Stainless 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 A992
Strength against density

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