Materials / Compare
Plastic ABS vs. FDM ASA
Compare Plastic ABS vs. FDM ASA 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 | 38.1MPasourcetypical | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 38.1MPasourcetypical, peak stress (= stress at yield) | 37MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 61.1MPasourcetypical | 65MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 4.6%sourcetypical | 9.2%sourcetypical2x more ductile |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.96GPasourcetypical | 2.45GPasourcetypical25% stiffer |
| Density | 1,100kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 34.6kN·m/kg | 35.2kN·m/kg2% higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.78MN·m/kg | 2.33MN·m/kg31% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39sourcebase material: ABS family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 0.706GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 2.97GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 1,336m/s | 1,528m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, typical | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 injection-molding ABS, range | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 475µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 21.2W/m | not sourced |
| Glass transition | 101°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86.6°CsourceHDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens) | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa |
| Values for | Ultimaker ABS, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v5.00, April 20, 2022. | Bambu Lab ASA, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y; nozzle 260 °C, bed 80 °C, 200 mm/s, 100% infill; annealed and dried 80 °C for 12 h before testing. |
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.
Plastic ABS and FDM ASA are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic ABS stronger than FDM ASA?
Plastic ABS is stronger: its yield strength is 38.1 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (3%).
Which is lighter, Plastic ABS or FDM ASA?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 1,100 kg/m³ for Plastic ABS.
Which is stiffer, Plastic ABS or FDM ASA?
FDM ASA is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.45 GPa against 1.96 GPa for Plastic ABS, so the same part in FDM ASA deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic ABS or FDM ASA?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM ASA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic ABS | FDM ASA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 31% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 17% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 13% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2% heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 3% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 3% 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 is more ductile, Plastic ABS or FDM ASA?
FDM ASA stretches further before it breaks: 9.2% elongation at break against 4.6% for Plastic ABS.
Which conducts heat better, Plastic ABS or FDM ASA?
Plastic ABS conducts heat better: 0.17 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic ABS expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.