Materials / Compare
FDM ASA vs. Nickel Inconel 718
Compare FDM ASA vs. Nickel Inconel 718 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 | not given (tensile used) | 1,207MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offset |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 37MPasourcetypical | 1,389MPasourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical | 20%sourcetypical, 1.0 in. bar |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.45GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged |
| Density | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical | 8,221kg/m³sourcenominal, annealed and aged |
| Strength to weight | 35.2kN·m/kg | 147kN·m/kg4.17x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.33MN·m/kg | 24.3MN·m/kg10.4x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.294sourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 77.3GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 162GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,528m/s | 4,932m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical | 11.4W/m·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a) |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range | 13.2µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + aged |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 66µm growth7.2x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 435J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 21 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 3.19mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 3,680W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,260–1,336°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 704°Csourceupper use temperature stated by producer |
| Values for | 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. | INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values |
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.
FDM ASA is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM ASA stronger than Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (32.6x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Nickel Inconel 718?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 8,221 kg/m³ for Nickel Inconel 718.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Nickel Inconel 718?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM ASA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | FDM ASA | Nickel Inconel 718 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 10.4x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 15% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.8x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 4.17x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 30% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 37% heavier |
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, FDM ASA or Nickel Inconel 718?
Nickel Inconel 718 conducts heat better: 11.4 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.