FDM ASA vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)

Compare FDM ASA vs. Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

FDM ASA3D printed (FDM)

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Bulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	FDM ASA	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	45MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	37MPa2	not stated (yield given)
Flexural strength	65MPa2	65MPa1
Elongation at break	9.2%2	10%1
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.45GPa2	2.3GPa1
Density	1,050kg/m³2	1,040kg/m³1
Strength to weight	35.2kN·m/kg	43.3kN·m/kg23% higher
Stiffness to weight	2.33MN·m/kg6% higher	2.21MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.393
Shear modulus	not sourced	0.827GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	3.48GPa
Speed of sound	1,528m/s3% faster	1,487m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	FDM ASA	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K4	0.17W/m·K1
Thermal expansion	base material80–110µm/m·K4	range80–110µm/m·K1
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	475µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	21.4W/m
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa92°C2	HDT 1.8 MPa94°C1

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources4 documents: INEOS Styrolution, Bambu Lab, Covestro

FDM ASA: 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.
Plastic ABS (bulk/injection): INEOS Styrolution Terluran GP-22 general-purpose injection-molding ABS, ISO typical values (TDS revision 08/01/2022)

1
Terluran GP-22 (ABS) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Flexural strength: typical, 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Elongation at break: nominal strain at break, 23 °CPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Density: typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Thermal conductivity: typicalPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Thermal expansion: rangePlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa (annealed 4 h/80 °C)
2
Bambu ASA Technical Data Sheet, V3.0Bambu LabFDM ASA · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalFDM ASA · Flexural strength: typicalFDM ASA · Elongation at break: typicalFDM ASA · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM ASA · Density: typicalFDM ASA · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
3
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic ABS (bulk/injection) · Poisson's ratio: typical, ABS family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
4
Luran S 777K (ASA) Product Data SheetINEOS StyrolutionFDM ASA · Thermal conductivity: base material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, typicalFDM ASA · Thermal expansion: base material: INEOS Styrolution Luran S 777K injection-molding ASA, range

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "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

Mechanical

Is FDM ASA stronger than Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is stronger: its yield strength is 45 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (22%).

Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter: 1,040 kg/m³ against 1,050 kg/m³ for FDM ASA.

Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

FDM ASA is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.45 GPa against 2.3 GPa for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection), so the same part in FDM ASA deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM ASA is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Plastic ABS (bulk/injection) is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	FDM ASA	Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	6% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	1% heavier
Strong rod or tie	23% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	15% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	11% 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).

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, FDM ASA or Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)?

FDM ASA conducts heat better: 0.17 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).

Which expands less with temperature?

FDM ASA expands less: 95 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for Plastic ABS (bulk/injection).