FDM ASA vs. SLS PA12 Nylon

Compare FDM ASA vs. SLS PA12 Nylon strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

FDM ASA3D printed (FDM)

Mechanical	FDM ASA	SLS PA12 Nylon
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	37MPa1	48MPa230% stronger
Flexural strength	65MPa1	not sourced
Elongation at break	9.2%1	18%21.96x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	2.45GPa148% stiffer	1.65GPa2
Density	1,050kg/m³1	930kg/m³213% lighter
Strength to weight	35.2kN·m/kg	51.6kN·m/kg46% higher
Stiffness to weight	2.33MN·m/kg32% higher	1.77MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	not sourced
Shear modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Bulk modulus	not sourced	not sourced
Speed of sound	1,528m/s15% faster	1,332m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	FDM ASA	SLS PA12 Nylon
Thermal conductivity	base material0.17W/m·K3	not sourced
Thermal expansion	base material80–110µm/m·K3	not sourced
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	475µm growth	not sourced
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	not sourced
Melting point	not sourced	176°C2
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa92°C128 °C hotter	HDT 1.8 MPa64°C2

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

Sources3 documents: Bambu Lab, EOS GmbH, 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.
SLS PA12 Nylon: EOS PA 2200 (PA12) Material Data Sheet, process parameter 'Balance' at 120 µm layer thickness, X orientation, dry (conditioned values not given). Live MDS status 04.10.2026, last changed 10.09.2026; PDF via ?topdf=... link on the same page.

1
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
2
PA 2200 Balance Material Data SheetEOS GmbHSLS PA12 Nylon · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Elongation at break: typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Density: typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Melting point: typicalSLS PA12 Nylon · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa, X orientation
3
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 and SLS PA12 Nylon are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is FDM ASA stronger than SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is stronger: its tensile strength is 48 MPa against 37 MPa for FDM ASA (30%).

Which is lighter, FDM ASA or SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter: 930 kg/m³ against 1,050 kg/m³ for FDM ASA.

Which is stiffer, FDM ASA or SLS PA12 Nylon?

FDM ASA is stiffer: Young's modulus 2.45 GPa against 1.65 GPa for SLS PA12 Nylon, so the same part in FDM ASA deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM ASA or SLS PA12 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; SLS PA12 Nylon is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	FDM ASA	SLS PA12 Nylon
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	32% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	8% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	1% heavier
Strong rod or tie	46% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	34% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	29% 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 SLS PA12 Nylon?

SLS PA12 Nylon stretches further before it breaks: 18% elongation at break against 9.2% for FDM ASA.

Thermal

Which handles higher temperatures, FDM ASA or SLS PA12 Nylon?

FDM ASA does: 92 °C against 64 °C for SLS PA12 Nylon.