Materials / Compare
FDM ASA vs. Plastic PMMA
Compare FDM ASA vs. Plastic PMMA 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) | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 37MPasourcetypical | 80MPasourcetypical, 23 °C |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 110MPasourcecompressive yield stress, typical |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical | 115MPasourcetypical1.77x stronger in bending |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical1.67x more ductile | 5.5%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.45GPasourcetypical | 3.3GPasourcetypical, short-term |
| Density | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical13% lighter | 1,190kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 35.2kN·m/kg | 67.2kN·m/kg1.91x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.33MN·m/kg | 2.77MN·m/kg19% higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.37sourcetypical |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 1.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 4.23GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,528m/s | 1,665m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical | 0.19W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range | 70µm/m·Ksource0-50 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 350µm growth36% less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 1,470J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 0.109mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 41.5W/m |
| Max service temperature | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 80°Csourcemax. permanent service temperature |
| 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. | Röhm PLEXIGLAS GS 0F00 cast acrylic sheet, typical values at 23 °C / 50 % RH (Röhm Technical Information Ref. No. 211-1) |
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 PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stronger: its tensile strength is 80 MPa against 37 MPa for FDM ASA (2.16x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Plastic PMMA?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for Plastic PMMA.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.3 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Plastic PMMA deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Plastic PMMA?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM ASA is lighter for a stiff panel or plate; Plastic PMMA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | FDM ASA | Plastic PMMA |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 19% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 2% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 3% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 1.91x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 48% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | 30% 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, FDM ASA or Plastic PMMA?
FDM ASA stretches further before it breaks: 9.2% elongation at break against 5.5% for Plastic PMMA.
Which conducts heat better, FDM ASA or Plastic PMMA?
Plastic PMMA conducts heat better: 0.19 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Plastic PMMA expands less: 70 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.