Materials / Compare
FDM ASA vs. Plastic Nylon PA6
Compare FDM ASA vs. Plastic Nylon PA6 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) | 90MPasourcetypical, dry |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 37MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical | 10%sourcenominal strain at break, dry |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.45GPasourcetypical | 3.5GPasourcetypical, dry |
| Density | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical | 1,130kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 35.2kN·m/kg | 79.6kN·m/kg2.26x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.33MN·m/kg | 3.1MN·m/kg33% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.4sourcebase material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro Table 3-1) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 1.25GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 5.83GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,528m/s | 1,760m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical | 0.33W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range | 102µm/m·Ksourcelongitudinal, 23-55 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth7% less | 510µm growth |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.172mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 49.9W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 220°CsourceDSC |
| Max service temperature | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 87°CsourceIEC 60216 temperature index, 20000 h |
| 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. | BASF Ultramid B3S (PA6, unreinforced injection-moulding grade), Product Information 02/2026, dry values (ISO methods) |
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 Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stronger: its yield strength is 90 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (2.43x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Plastic Nylon PA6?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 1,130 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon PA6.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.5 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Plastic Nylon PA6 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Plastic Nylon PA6?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic Nylon PA6 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 | FDM ASA | Plastic Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 33% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 11% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 5% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.26x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.68x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 45% 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, FDM ASA or Plastic Nylon PA6?
Plastic Nylon PA6 conducts heat better: 0.33 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM ASA expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 102 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon PA6.