Materials / Compare
FDM ASA vs. Iron
Compare FDM ASA vs. Iron 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) | 186MPasourcetypical (0.2% YS), hot rolled + SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 37MPasourcetypical | 290MPasourcetypical, SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical | 38%sourcetypical, gauge 4D0 |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.45GPasourcetypical | 207GPasourcetypical, after SRA/recrystallization anneal |
| Density | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical7.49x lighter | 7,860kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 35.2kN·m/kg49% higher | 23.7kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.33MN·m/kg | 26.3MN·m/kg11.3x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.282sourceNIST critically evaluated best value (polycrystalline iron) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 80.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 158GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,528m/s | 5,132m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical | 73.2W/m·Ksourcetypical at 20 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range | 13.7µm/m·Ksourcemean, 20-399 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 68.5µm growth6.93x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 450J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 20.7mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 3,447W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,532°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | not sourced |
| 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. | Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel ARMCO Pure Iron Product Data Bulletin (07/2022): Table 1 typical physical properties, Table 2 typical mechanical properties after SRA/recrystallization anneal. |
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 Iron?
Iron is stronger: its yield strength is 186 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (5.03x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Iron?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 7,860 kg/m³ for Iron.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Iron?
Iron is stiffer: Young's modulus 207 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Iron deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Iron?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM ASA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Iron is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).
| Part that must be | FDM ASA | Iron |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 11.3x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 23% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.71x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 49% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.55x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3.34x 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 Iron?
Iron conducts heat better: 73.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Iron expands less: 13.7 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.