FDM ASA vs. Plastic Polypropylene

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

FDM ASA3D printed (FDM)

Plastic PolypropyleneBulk polymer (molded or machined)

Mechanical	FDM ASA	Plastic Polypropylene
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	33MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	37MPa2	not stated (yield given)
Flexural strength	65MPa2	not sourced
Elongation at break	9.2%2	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.45GPa21.69x stiffer	1.45GPa1
Density	1,050kg/m³2	900kg/m³117% lighter
Strength to weight	35.2kN·m/kg	36.7kN·m/kg4% higher
Stiffness to weight	2.33MN·m/kg45% higher	1.61MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	base material0.423
Shear modulus	not sourced	0.511GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	3.02GPa
Speed of sound	1,528m/s20% faster	1,269m/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 Polypropylene
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K4	base material0.17–0.22W/m·K3
Thermal expansion	base material80–110µm/m·K4	base material80–100µm/m·K3
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	450µm growth6% less
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	28.6W/m
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa92°C2	HDT 0.45 MPa90°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

Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD

Sources4 documents: LyondellBasell, Bambu Lab, INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, INEOS Styrolution

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 Polypropylene: LyondellBasell Moplen HP501H polypropylene homopolymer (general purpose), typical ISO values

1
Moplen HP501H Product DataLyondellBasellPlastic Polypropylene · Yield strength: typical, tensile stress at yield ISO 527Plastic Polypropylene · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, tensile modulus ISO 527Plastic Polypropylene · Density: typical, 23 °C ISO 1183-1Plastic Polypropylene · Max service temperature: HDT 0.45 MPa (ISO 75B), unannealed
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
Typical Engineering Properties of PolypropyleneINEOS Olefins & Polymers USAarchived copyPlastic Polypropylene · Poisson's ratio: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)Plastic Polypropylene · Thermal conductivity: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)Plastic Polypropylene · Thermal expansion: base material: polypropylene homopolymer family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of Polypropylene)
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 Polypropylene?

FDM ASA is stronger: its tensile strength is 37 MPa against yield strength 33 MPa for Plastic Polypropylene (12%).

Which is lighter, FDM ASA or Plastic Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene is lighter: 900 kg/m³ against 1,050 kg/m³ for FDM ASA.

Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or Plastic Polypropylene?

FDM ASA is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.45 GPa against 1.45 GPa for Plastic Polypropylene, so the same part in FDM ASA deflects less under the same load.

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

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

Part that must be	FDM ASA	Plastic Polypropylene
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	45% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	11% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2% heavier
Strong rod or tie	4% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	8% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	10% 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 Polypropylene?

Plastic Polypropylene conducts heat better: 0.195 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM ASA.

Which expands less with temperature?

Plastic Polypropylene expands less: 90 µm/m·K against 95 µm/m·K for FDM ASA.