FDM ASA vs. Plastic Nylon

Compare FDM ASA vs. Plastic Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

FDM ASA3D printed (FDM)

Mechanical	FDM ASA	Plastic Nylon
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	63.1MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	37MPa2	63.1MPa11.71x stronger
Flexural strength	65MPa2	82.9MPa128% stronger in bending
Elongation at break	9.2%2	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.45GPa2	2.33GPa1
Density	1,050kg/m³2	1,140kg/m³1
Strength to weight	35.2kN·m/kg	55.4kN·m/kg1.57x higher
Stiffness to weight	2.33MN·m/kg14% higher	2.04MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	base material0.43
Shear modulus	not sourced	0.833GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	3.89GPa
Speed of sound	1,528m/s7% faster	1,430m/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 Nylon
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K4	base material0.33W/m·K51.94x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	base material80–110µm/m·K4	base material98–102µm/m·K5
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth5% less	500µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	base material1,700J/kg·K5
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.17mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	53.6W/m
Melting point	not sourced	188°C1
Glass transition	not sourced	55.1°C1
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa92°C2	HDT 0.455 MPa89.2°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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Sources5 documents: UltiMaker, Bambu Lab, Covestro, INEOS Styrolution, BASF

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 Nylon: Ultimaker Nylon, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat), conditioned >=24 h at room temperature; Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS v2.00, April 20, 2022.

1
Ultimaker Nylon Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyPlastic Nylon · Yield strength: typicalPlastic Nylon · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)Plastic Nylon · Flexural strength: typicalPlastic Nylon · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Nylon · Density: typicalPlastic Nylon · Melting point: typicalPlastic Nylon · Glass transition: typicalPlastic Nylon · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
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 GuideCovestroPlastic Nylon · Poisson's ratio: base material: unfilled polyamide (PA), conditioned, maker design-guide family value (Covestro 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
5
Ultramid (PA) Product RangeBASFPlastic Nylon · Thermal conductivity: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)Plastic Nylon · Thermal expansion: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K, 98) and PA6 (B3S, 102), 23-55 CPlastic Nylon · Specific heat: base material: unreinforced BASF Ultramid PA66 (A3K) and PA6 (B3S), 23 C (same value for both)

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 and Plastic Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is FDM ASA stronger than Plastic Nylon?

Plastic Nylon is stronger: its yield strength is 63.1 MPa against tensile strength 37 MPa for FDM ASA (1.71x).

Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Plastic Nylon?

FDM ASA is lighter: 1,050 kg/m³ against 1,140 kg/m³ for Plastic Nylon.

Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Plastic Nylon?

FDM ASA is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.45 GPa against 2.33 GPa for Plastic Nylon, so the same part in FDM ASA deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or Plastic Nylon?

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 Nylon is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	FDM ASA	Plastic Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	14% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	11% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	10% heavier
Strong rod or tie	1.57x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	31% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	20% 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 Nylon?

Plastic Nylon 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 100 µm/m·K for Plastic Nylon.