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Steel AISI 1045 vs. DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium

Compare Steel AISI 1045 vs. DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Steel AISI 1045Wrought
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium3D printed metal (DMLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Ultimate tensile strength627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Elongation at break12%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm)8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)
Young's modulus (stiffness)210GPasourcetypical110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical
Density7,800kg/m³sourcetypical4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400
Strength to weight68.1kN·m/kg250kN·m/kg3.67x higher
Stiffness to weight26.9MN·m/kg8% higher25MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.3sourcetypical0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured
Shear modulus80.8GPa1.97x stiffer in shear41GPa
Bulk modulus175GPa116GPa
Speed of sound5,189m/s5,000m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Thermal expansion12µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C9µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228; EOS Ti64 Grade 23 (=ELI) on EOS M 290 40 µm; condition not stated (sheet's mechanical data are heat treated)
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing60µm growth45µm growth33% less
Specific heat460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)11.6mm²/s4.48x faster2.59mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance6,269W/m30% more resistant4,825W/m
Melting pointnot sourced1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)
Values forAISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constantsEOS Titanium Ti64ELI (powder 9011-0040; ASTM F136/F3001, i.e. Grade 23) on EOS M400 SF, parameter set Ti64ELI_030_FlexM400_100, 30 µm, as built; ISO 6892-1 A14

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 Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is Steel AISI 1045 stronger than DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 531 MPa for Steel AISI 1045 (2.07x).

Which is lighter, Steel AISI 1045 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter: 4,400 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1045.

Which is stiffer, Steel AISI 1045 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 110 GPa for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Steel AISI 1045 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 1045 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension); DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beSteel AISI 1045DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter8% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)28% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate43% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie3.67x heavierlighter
Strong beam2.88x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate2.55x 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, Steel AISI 1045 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

Steel AISI 1045 conducts heat better: 42.5 W/m·K against 6.6 W/m·K for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium expands less: 9 µm/m·K against 12 µm/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.

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 4340Steel 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 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelSteel AISI 1045DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
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 4340Steel 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 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickSteel AISI 1045DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Strength against density

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