Additive, MIM and Powder Metallurgy Material Density and Process Reference
Mass, powder cost and shrinkage calculations all start with a density, and the right number depends on the alloy and the route. This reference lists common additive, MIM and powder metallurgy metals with their density, typical routes and short notes.
| Material | Family | Density (g/cm3) | Typical routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
316L stainless (UNS S31603) | Stainless steel | 7.99 | PBF-LB, binder jet, MIM, PM | Corrosion resistant, common AM and MIM baseline alloy |
304L stainless (UNS S30403) | Stainless steel | 7.90 | PBF-LB, binder jet, PM | Austenitic, lower cost than 316L |
17-4 PH (UNS S17400) | Stainless steel | 7.78 | PBF-LB, binder jet, MIM | Precipitation hardening, heat treated to H900 to H1150 conditions |
420 stainless (UNS S42000) | Stainless steel | 7.74 | Binder jet, MIM, PM | Martensitic, hardenable |
410L stainless | Stainless steel | 7.70 | PM | PM structural and magnetic parts; sintered density is lower |
MIM-2200 (Fe-2Ni) | Low-alloy and carbon steel | 7.5 to 7.7 typical sintered | MIM | MPIF Standard 35 MIM designation, case hardenable |
MIM-2700 (Fe-7Ni) | Low-alloy and carbon steel | 7.5 to 7.7 typical sintered | MIM | MPIF Standard 35 MIM designation, higher nickel for toughness |
MIM-4605 (Fe-Ni-Mo-C) | Low-alloy and carbon steel | 7.5 to 7.7 typical sintered | MIM | Heat treatable low-alloy steel |
4140 steel (UNS G41400) | Low-alloy and carbon steel | 7.85 | DED, MIM | Quench and temper chromium-molybdenum steel |
FC-0208 (Fe-Cu-C) | Low-alloy and carbon steel | 6.6 to 7.0 typical sintered | PM press and sinter | MPIF designation, nominal 2 percent copper and 0.8 percent carbon |
FN-0205 (Fe-Ni-C) | Low-alloy and carbon steel | 6.6 to 7.1 typical sintered | PM press and sinter | MPIF designation, nominal 2 percent nickel, heat treatable |
FL-4605 (Fe-Ni-Mo-C) | Low-alloy and carbon steel | 6.9 to 7.4 typical sintered | PM press and sinter | Prealloyed molybdenum, heat treatable, common structural grade |
Maraging 18Ni300 (1.2709) | Tool steel | 8.00 | PBF-LB | Age hardened tooling and conformal-cooling inserts |
H13 tool steel (UNS T20813) | Tool steel | 7.80 | PBF-LB, DED, binder jet | Hot-work steel for dies |
Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5 (UNS R56400) | Titanium | 4.43 | PBF-LB, PBF-EB, DED, MIM | Most common AM titanium alloy, aerospace and medical |
Ti-6Al-4V ELI Grade 23 | Titanium | 4.43 | PBF-LB, PBF-EB | Extra low interstitials for implants |
CP titanium Grade 2 | Titanium | 4.51 | PBF-LB, MIM, PM | Commercially pure, corrosion resistant |
Inconel 718 (UNS N07718) | Nickel and cobalt alloy | 8.19 | PBF-LB, DED, MIM | Age hardened, aerospace turbine and propulsion parts |
Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) | Nickel and cobalt alloy | 8.44 | PBF-LB, DED | Solution strengthened, corrosion resistant |
Hastelloy X (UNS N06002) | Nickel and cobalt alloy | 8.22 | PBF-LB | Oxidation resistant, combustor parts |
Haynes 282 (UNS N07208) | Nickel and cobalt alloy | 8.29 | PBF-LB, DED | Gamma prime strengthened, weldable |
CoCrMo (ASTM F75) | Nickel and cobalt alloy | 8.30 | PBF-LB, PBF-EB, MIM | Biomedical and dental alloy |
AlSi10Mg | Aluminum | 2.67 | PBF-LB | Cast-type alloy, the most common AM aluminum |
Al 6061 (UNS A96061) | Aluminum | 2.70 | DED, PM | Difficult in laser powder bed due to cracking without modified chemistry |
Copper (C11000 equivalent) | Copper | 8.96 | PBF-LB, binder jet, MIM | High reflectivity; green or high-power lasers help |
CuCrZr (UNS C18150) | Copper | 8.90 | PBF-LB | High conductivity with strength, rocket and heat exchanger parts |
Bronze 90/10 (Cu-Sn) | Copper | 8.78 | PM press and sinter | Self-lubricating porous bearings are impregnated with oil |
Tungsten | Refractory and hard metal | 19.25 | PM, MIM, PBF-LB | High melting point, radiation shielding |
Tungsten heavy alloy (90W-7Ni-3Fe) | Refractory and hard metal | 17.0 typical | PM, MIM | Liquid-phase sintered counterweights and shielding |
Cemented carbide WC-10Co | Refractory and hard metal | 14.5 typical | PM, binder jet | Cutting tools and wear parts, sintered near full density |
Fe-50Ni soft magnetic | Soft magnetic | 8.25 | MIM, PM | High permeability nickel-iron alloy |
Fe-3Si soft magnetic | Soft magnetic | 7.65 | MIM, PM | Silicon iron for magnetic cores |
Densities are handbook values for planning mass and cost, not specification limits. PM and MIM parts are not fully dense, so use the sintered density you measure. Check the governing specification, such as MPIF Standard 35 for PM and MIM materials, for design values.
Structured material data in your ERP
Optional: a review of storing density, route and specification attributes on item master records.
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How to use it
Search by alloy name, UNS number, family or route. The density column gives the fully dense wrought value for wrought-equivalent alloys, and a typical sintered range where noted for PM and MIM designations. Copy the density into the build cost, nesting and shrinkage calculators to convert part volume to mass. The routes column shows which processes commonly handle the alloy, which narrows the make-or-print options.
- Use sintered density for MIM and PM parts, not the wrought value.
- Confirm alloy availability with your powder or service supplier.
- Check the governing specification for design values.
Understanding the routes
Laser and electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB, PBF-EB) produce near fully dense metal parts layer by layer. Binder jet prints a green part that is sintered, like MIM, and shrinks. DED deposits metal from powder or wire for repair and large features. Metal injection molding (MIM) molds feedstock, debinds and sinters, and suits small complex parts at high volumes. Press-and-sinter PM compacts powder in a die and suits axially pressed shapes at very high volumes.
Density, porosity and cost
Density drives cost in two places. Powder price per kilogram multiplied by part mass sets material cost, and heavier alloys such as nickel and tungsten alloys cost more for the same volume. Porosity changes properties: PM structural parts at 6.6 to 7.0 g/cm3 have lower strength and ductility than wrought steel, and MIM parts at 95 to 99 percent density approach wrought properties. Fully dense AM parts may still need HIP to close internal voids in fatigue-critical applications.
Common mistakes
Using wrought density for a porous PM part overestimates its mass, often by ten percent or more. Mixing trade names with standard designations is another problem: check composition and condition, not only the label. Alloys on this list that are marked difficult, such as 6061 aluminum in laser powder bed, usually need modified chemistries. Finally, powder and feedstock prices vary widely by size distribution and supplier, so use quotes, not list averages, for budgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which density should I use for mass calculations?
For fully dense AM parts, use the wrought density. For MIM and PM parts, use the measured or specified sintered density, because porosity reduces mass compared with the wrought value.
What is MPIF Standard 35?
It is the Metal Powder Industries Federation standard that defines materials and designations for PM structural parts, with companion editions for MIM and other PM materials. It lists compositions, properties and design values used in drawings.
Why are some alloys marked difficult in some processes?
Alloy chemistry, thermal conductivity, reflectivity and solidification range affect printability. For example, standard 6061 tends to crack in laser powder bed fusion, and pure copper reflects infrared lasers strongly.
Is the density the same for powder and part?
No. Powder has apparent and tap densities that are well below the solid density because of gaps between particles. The values here are for solid material, which you use for part mass.
If your item master and BOMs should carry density, route and material specifications consistently, we can help clean and structure that data in your ERP.
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