Materials / Compare

Steel AISI 4340 vs. DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium

Compare Steel AISI 4340 vs. DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Steel AISI 4340Wrought
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium3D printed metal (DMLS)
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Mechanical
Yield strength1,035MPasourcetypical, transverse1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Ultimate tensile strength1,140MPasourcetypical, transverse1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400)
Elongation at break18%sourcetypical, transverse8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400)
Young's modulus (stiffness)200GPasourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical
Density7,840kg/m³sourcetypical4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400
Strength to weight132kN·m/kg250kN·m/kg1.89x higher
Stiffness to weight25.5MN·m/kg2% higher25MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.32sourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured
Shear modulus75.7GPa1.85x stiffer in shear41GPa
Bulk modulus185GPa116GPa
Speed of sound5,049m/s5,000m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity37.5W/m·Ksourcetypical6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Thermal expansion11.3µm/m·Ksourcemean, -18 to 93 °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 swing56.5µm growth45µm growth26% less
Specific heat448J/kg·Ksourcetypical580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)10.7mm²/s4.13x faster2.59mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance11,678W/m2.42x more resistant4,825W/m
Melting pointnot sourced1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level)
Values forCarpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-levelEOS 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 4340 stronger than DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 1,035 MPa for Steel AISI 4340 (6%).

Which is lighter, Steel AISI 4340 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter: 4,400 kg/m³ against 7,840 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 4340.

Which is stiffer, Steel AISI 4340 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

Steel AISI 4340 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 110 GPa for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium, so the same part in Steel AISI 4340 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Steel AISI 4340 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 4340 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 4340DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)32% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate46% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie1.89x heavierlighter
Strong beam1.86x heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1.84x 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 4340 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?

Steel AISI 4340 conducts heat better: 37.5 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 11.3 µm/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.

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

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