Materials / Compare
Steel vs. DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium
Compare Steel vs. DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium 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 | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC | 1,100MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) | 1,270MPasourcetypical, as built, average of horizontal + vertical (M400) |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 8.7%sourcetypical at break, as built (M400) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) | 110GPasourcesame maker and process, sibling grade: EOS Titanium Ti64 (Grade 5) on EOS M 290, as built, XY and Z, typical |
| Density | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) | 4,400kg/m³sourcetypical part density (ISO 3369), M400 |
| Strength to weight | 49kN·m/kg | 250kN·m/kg5.1x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.5MN·m/kg2% higher | 25MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) | 0.342sourcewrought TIMETAL 6-4 (TIMET measurement, mean of 10); composition-level, not DMLS-measured |
| Shear modulus | 76.9GPa1.88x stiffer in shear | 41GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 167GPa | 116GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,048m/s | 5,000m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C | 6.6W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) | 9µm/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 swing | 60µm growth | 45µm growth33% less |
| Specific heat | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C | 580J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought Ti-6Al-4V / 6-4 ELI (TIMET datasheet), 20 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 13mm²/s5.03x faster | 2.59mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | 5,390W/m12% more resistant | 4,825W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,630–1,650°Csourcemelting range, wrought TIMETAL 6-4 (composition-level) |
| Values for | 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. | EOS 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 stronger than DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is stronger: its yield strength is 1,100 MPa against 385 MPa for Steel (2.86x).
Which is lighter, Steel or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?
DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium is lighter: 4,400 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Steel or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 110 GPa for DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Steel or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?
For the same stiffness or strength: Steel 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 be | Steel | DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2% heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 32% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 46% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 5.1x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 3.59x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 3.02x heavier | lighter |
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 or DMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium?
Steel conducts heat better: 48 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.