Materials / Compare
FDM ASA vs. Stainless 304
Compare FDM ASA vs. Stainless 304 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) | 241MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 37MPasourcetypical | 586MPasourcetypical, annealed, 70 °F (21 °C) |
| Flexural strength | 65MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 9.2%sourcetypical | 55%sourcetypical, annealed, in 2 in. (50.8 mm) |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 2.45GPasourcetypical | 193GPasourcetypical, in tension |
| Density | 1,050kg/m³sourcetypical7.65x lighter | 8,030kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 35.2kN·m/kg17% higher | 30kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 2.33MN·m/kg | 24MN·m/kg10.3x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.3sourcedesign value (structural stainless steels) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 74.2GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 161GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,528m/s | 4,903m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typical | 16.2W/m·Ksourceat 100 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 80–110µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range | 16.9µm/m·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 475µm growth | 84.5µm growth5.62x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 500J/kg·Ksourcemean, 0–100 °C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 4.03mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 838W/m |
| Melting point | not sourced | 1,399–1,454°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | 92°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | 899°Csourcecontinuous, oxidation (scaling) limit in air |
| 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. | Type 304, annealed flat-rolled (Cleveland-Cliffs 304/304L Product Data Bulletin, May 2021); Poisson's ratio from the Nickel Institute/SCI structural stainless design manual |
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 Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 is stronger: its yield strength is 241 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (6.51x).
Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Stainless 304?
FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 8,030 kg/m³ for Stainless 304.
Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 is stiffer: Young's modulus 193 GPa against 2.45 GPa for FDM ASA, so the same part in Stainless 304 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Stainless 304?
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; Stainless 304 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending).
| Part that must be | FDM ASA | Stainless 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 10.3x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 16% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.78x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 17% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 2.19x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 3x 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 Stainless 304?
Stainless 304 conducts heat better: 16.2 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.
Which expands less with temperature?
Stainless 304 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.