Plastic Material: ABS vs ASA – What’s the difference?
A frequently asked question in the 3D printing industry is: what is the difference between ABS and ASA? Today, we are going to break down the differences and clear up the air between these two materials.
Let’s start with the technical data.
| Material | Filament PM ABS | 3DXTech ASA |
| Density (g/cm3) | 1.04 | 1.07 |
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 42 | 45 |
| Flexural Modulus (MPA) | 1800 | 2000 |
| Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) | 94C | 105C |
Based on the technical data, the properties between ABS and ASA are mostly similar, with ASA inching out slightly. It has better tensile strength, flexural modulus, and glass transition temperature, but, it comes in at a higher density. In terms of mechanical properties, they are similar. So, what is the catch?
Not on the datasheets.
One significant advantage that ASA has over ABS is that it has UV resistance and is weather resistant, which makes it great for outdoor use! As you probably already know, ABS is notorious for warping during the printing process, ASA on the other hand is much less prone to warping.
Cost Effective?
In the past, ABS was more commonly used, making it cheaper to produce, resulting in a much lower price tag. However, ASA’s popularity has risen over the years, bringing down the production cost, and making it very similar to ABS.
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