3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS-FR vs ASA Aero

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

Flame-retardant ABS (FR-ABS) guideFoaming ASA (ASA Aero) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS-FR comparisonsMore ASA Aero comparisons
ABS-FR vs ASA Aero — documented properties and sources
PropertyFlame-retardant ABS (FR-ABS)ABSFoaming ASA (ASA Aero)ASA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$52.00/kg median; $44.99–$120.00/kg across 5 dated product listings$49.99/kg median; $49.99–$49.99/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryABS with a flame-retardant package; 3DXTech rates the base resin UL 94 V-0[1]ASA with a heat-activated blowing agent that expands at the nozzle[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.18 (ISO 1183) — above unfilled ABS at 1.05 because of the retardant loading[1][4]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 45–120; the middle of the market is about 52[5][6][7][8]1 kg spools cluster near 50[9]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg45–120 across brands; SUNLU 45, YXPOLYER 50, Coex 3D 52, 3DXTech 107 at 750 g pricing; the FR PC/ABS grade runs 120[5][6][7][8]50 at Bambu Lab's 1 kg listing[9]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[5]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[9][3]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools[5]1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[9]
Typical applicationsElectrical enclosures and transport interiors that must meet a flammability rating[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[10]Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[2][10]
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[10][11]PEI sheet, BuildTak or an adhesion aid such as Magigoo (Polymaker); Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ASA slurry[12][13]
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][14]
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts[10]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[10]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[12]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[15]Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[12]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[10]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 required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[10]Brass fine indefinitely[10]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[1]Non-abrasive[10]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns and no minimum layer height for its FR-ABS, only an 80 °C pre-dry[16]Not documented
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[11]Slightly sensitive[13]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[11]No special hotend required[13]
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[4][17][16]High — 0.80 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH, nearly double unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[2][18]
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[19]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[19]
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[19]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; Polymaker groups the styrenics as moderate-sensitivity and absorbed water shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[19]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[19]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates the styrenics moderate-sensitivity[19]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa45 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]32 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Young's modulusMPa1990 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]2010 ± 260 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Elongation at break%4 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — well below the 10 % of unfilled 3DXTech ABS[1][20]5.1 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Flexural strengthMPa80 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]58 ± 6 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Flexural modulusMPa2250 (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]
Brittleness1–5Moderate — elongation at break falls to 4 % from 10 % for the unfilled grade[1][20]Moderate[2]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate — no creep test found; Tg of 105 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[1][20]Below average — no creep test found; the foamed structure drops modulus to 2010 MPa and load is carried by a lower solid fraction[2][18]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break falls to 4 % against 10 % for unfilled 3DXTech ABS[1][20]Moderate — no foamed-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed ASA holds a fatigue limit at 25 % of tensile strength[2][21]
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][18]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented78 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 92 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[2][18]
Glass transition (Tg)°C105 (DSC)[1]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented93 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament ASA[22]
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm, rated on the base resin rather than the printed part[1]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[18]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedExcellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; Formfutura states the foaming grade retains ApolloX's UV resistance[3][23]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[24]Good against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[25]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[15]Not food safe[12]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[15]Not biodegradable[12]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[15]Not accepted in household plastic collection[12]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[26][10]High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[26][10]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[26]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[26]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[26][10]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[10][26]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[26][10]Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[26][10]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[15]Sands well and takes filler before painting[12]
Painting & finishingPaints readily after light abrasion[15]Paints readily; ASA holds colour outdoors so many parts are left unpainted[12]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedSolvent-welds with acetone[25]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedAcetone vapour smoothing works[25]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[27][10]HIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a Support for ABS that also serves ASA[10]
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 it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[28][24]Acetone dissolves it (Polymaker); MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and the chlorinated solvents dissolve the styrenic backbone.[28][25]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[28][29]Limonene attacks some grades — Prusa reports Prusament ASA Orange flaking apart as layer adhesion fails.[29]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[30]Acetone vapour, ~20 min at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid; the foamed wall absorbs solvent, so cut the exposure well short.[30]

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. Firewire Flame Retardant 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. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. SUNLU ABS-FR (ABS Flame Retardant) 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. YXPOLYER ABS Flame-Retardant product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Flame Retardant Black ABS Coex 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. ASA Aero — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  12. ASA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. ASA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  15. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. FIREWIRE FR-ABS — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  18. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ASA Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  19. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  20. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  21. 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
  22. Prusament ASA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  23. ASA — FDM Material Data Sheet (includes 1000 h QUV exposure results) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  24. PolyLite ABS Technical Data Sheet (V5.5 served at this URL) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  25. PolyLite ASA Technical Data Sheet Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  26. 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
  27. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  29. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  30. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc