3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS-CF vs ASA Aero

Compare printing settings, strength, heat resistance, dated prices and sources.

Carbon-fibre ABS (ABS-CF) guideFoaming ASA (ASA Aero) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS-CF comparisonsMore ASA Aero comparisons
ABS-CF vs ASA Aero — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre ABS (ABS-CF)ABSFoaming ASA (ASA Aero)ASA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$35.99/kg median; $22.00–$125.00/kg across 7 dated product listings$49.99/kg median; $49.99–$49.99/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryABS reinforced with chopped carbon fibre[1]ASA with a heat-activated blowing agent that expands at the nozzle[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.11 (ISO 1183)[1]0.99 filament (Bambu Lab, ISO 1183); Formfutura's grade reaches 0.33 g/cm³ fully expanded[2][3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 22–125; the middle of the market is about 36[4][5][6][7][8]1 kg spools cluster near 50[9]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg22–125 across brands; IEMAI 22, Siraya Tech 28 and 36 for the core-shell grade, YXPOLYER 35, Push Plastic 50 at 2 kg, 3DXTech 64 at 750 g; Stratasys-compatible cartridges run far higher[4][5][6][7][10][8]50 at Bambu Lab's 1 kg listing[9]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[4][5]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[9][3]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools plus Stratasys-compatible cartridges[4][5]1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[9]
Typical applicationsStiff tooling and fixtures that must survive above 100 °C[1]Drone airframes, RC parts and floating or outdoor applications where mass matters and UV exposure rules out LW-PLA[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented240–280 (Bambu Lab); 220–285 (Formfutura), with foaming activating near 230 °C and peaking between 270 and 285 °C[2][3]
Bed temperature°CNot documented80–90 (Bambu Lab); 50–90 (Formfutura)[2][3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[11]Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[2][11]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented45–60 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Part cooling fanNot documented0–80 % (Bambu Lab); 0–50 % (Formfutura)[2][3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue; Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ABS slurry[11][12]PEI sheet, BuildTak or an adhesion aid such as Magigoo (Polymaker); Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ASA slurry[13][14]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented12 at Bambu Lab's 150 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[2][15]
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield; the fibre reduces warping against unfilled ABS[11]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[11]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[13]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[16]Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[13]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; hardened nozzle mandatory[11]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; flow has to be cut to match the expansion and the density follows nozzle temperature[3][2]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[11]Brass fine indefinitely[11]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[11]Non-abrasive[11]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech specifies a hardened nozzle of 0.4 mm minimum and 0.25 mm layers or higher, and Prusa lists composites as a higher clogging risk[17][18][19]Not documented
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[12]Slightly sensitive[14]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[12]No special hotend required[14]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — the ABS matrix takes up 0.51–0.65 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH and 3DXTech specifies a 80 °C, 4 h pre-dry[20][21][17]High — 0.80 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH, nearly double unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[2][22]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.80 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[2]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[2]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[23]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[23]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; absorbed water flashes to steam in the hotend and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[23]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; Polymaker groups the styrenics as moderate-sensitivity and absorbed water shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[23]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[23]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates the styrenics moderate-sensitivity[23]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa46 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]32 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Young's modulusMPa5210 (printed XY, ISO 527) — more than double unfilled ABS[1]2010 ± 260 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Elongation at break%2 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]5.1 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Flexural strengthMPa76 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]58 ± 6 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Flexural modulusMPa5260 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]1510 ± 120 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented8.2 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab)[2]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 32.0 ± 2.5 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179)[2]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented21 ± 4 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); flexural Z falls to 24 against 58 in XY[2]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 2 %[1]Moderate[2]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good — no creep test found; chopped carbon fibre restrains matrix flow and modulus rises to 5210 MPa against 2200–2330 for unfilled ABS[1][20][21]Below average — no creep test found; the foamed structure drops modulus to 2010 MPa and load is carried by a lower solid fraction[2][22]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break falls to 2 % against 10.5 % for unfilled ABS[1][20]Moderate — no foamed-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed ASA holds a fatigue limit at 25 % of tensile strength[2][24]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented66 by tensile, 41 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented85 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 100 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[2][22]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented78 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 92 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[2][22]
Glass transition (Tg)°C105 (DSC)[1]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented93 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament ASA[25]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K19–25 along the print bead and 80–84 in the build direction at 30 °C (20 wt% CF, large-format printed, TMA)[26]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published[22]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedExcellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; Formfutura states the foaming grade retains ApolloX's UV resistance[3][27]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[28]Good against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[29]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[16]Not food safe[13]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[16]Not biodegradable[13]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[16]Not accepted in household plastic collection[13]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (ASTM D257)[1]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[30][11]High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[30][11]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[30]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[30]Not documented
Hazardous species emittedStyrene dominates. Bambu Lab states ABS and ASA release harmful gases such as styrene at printing temperature, which can be toxic and cause dizziness or nausea[30][11]Styrene. Bambu Lab states ABS and ASA release harmful gases such as styrene at printing temperature, which can be toxic and cause dizziness or nausea. Azimi et al. measured styrene from every styrenic filament tested but did not test ASA itself[11][30]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[30][11]Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[30][11]
Dust & fibre handling hazardCarbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[16]Sands well and takes filler before painting[13]
Painting & finishingPaints readily after light abrasion[16]Paints readily; ASA holds colour outdoors so many parts are left unpainted[13]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedSolvent-welds with acetone[29]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone smoothing is blunted by the fibre — only the resin fraction dissolves[28]Acetone vapour smoothing works[29]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[31][11]HIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a Support for ABS that also serves ASA[11]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedMatte, textured surface that hides layer lines; colour lightens as the foaming degree rises, which doubles as a visual density cue[3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves the resin and leaves the fibre as sludge; MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and chlorinated solvents do the same.[32][28]Acetone dissolves it (Polymaker); MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and the chlorinated solvents dissolve the styrenic backbone.[32][29]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[32][33]Limonene attacks some grades — Prusa reports Prusament ASA Orange flaking apart as layer adhesion fails.[33]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone vapour reaches only the resin fraction, so the fibre is left standing proud of the smoothed surface.[34][28]Acetone vapour, ~20 min at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid; the foamed wall absorbs solvent, so cut the exposure well short.[34]

Material entries describe families or representative grades, not an interchangeable specification for every spool. Test methods, orientations and conditions may differ. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. CarbonX Carbon Fiber ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — ASA Aero Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  3. ApolloX Foaming Technical Data Sheet Formfutura · 2025-07 · tds
  4. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. IEMAI CF-ABS 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Siraya Tech Fibreheart ABS-CF Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. YXPOLYER ABS CF product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. ASA Aero — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Siraya Tech Fibreheart ABS-CF Core Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  13. ASA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. ASA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  16. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. CARBONX ABS+CF — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Carbon Fiber Filled — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  21. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  22. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ASA Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  23. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Mechanical, Fatigue, and Thermal Characterization of ASA, Nylon 12, PC and PC-ABS Manufactured by Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) Polymers 18(2):302 · 2026-01 · paper
  25. Prusament ASA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Effects of Fiber Orientation on the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Fiber-Filled Polymer Systems in Large Format Polymer Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing Materials 15(8):2764 · 2022-04 · paper
  27. ASA — FDM Material Data Sheet (includes 1000 h QUV exposure results) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  28. PolyLite ABS Technical Data Sheet (V5.5 served at this URL) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  29. PolyLite ASA Technical Data Sheet Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  30. Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments (Azimi et al.) Environmental Science & Technology 50(3) 1260-1268 · 2016-01 · paper
  31. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  32. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  33. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  34. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc