3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS vs PA6

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

ABS guidePA6 (Nylon 6) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS comparisonsMore PA6 comparisons
ABS vs PA6 — documented properties and sources
PropertyABSABSPA6 (Nylon 6)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$19.99/kg median; $11.99–$45.00/kg across 16 dated product listings$104.00/kg median; $38.99–$136.00/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene — a styrenic terpolymer with a butadiene rubber phase[1][2]Polyamide 6, ring-opened from caprolactam — the most hygroscopic of the common nylons[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.04 (Polymaker PolyLite ABS and ABS Pro) to 1.06 (ABS Max), ISO 1183; Bambu Lab 1.05[5][1][6][7]1.06 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy)[8]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 20[9][10][11][12][13]1 kg-equivalent spools span 39–136; the middle of the market is about 104, though budget unfilled PA6 has now arrived at 39[14][15]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg12–45 across brands; IEMAI 12, SUNLU 12 at a 3 kg minimum, ELEGOO 15 in a 5 kg pack, Polymaker 19, YXPOLYER 20, Bambu Lab 20, Push Plastic 25, 3DXTech 45[9][10][14][16][11][12][13][17]39–136 across brands; YXPOLYER 39, 3DXTech iOn Nylon 6 Alloy 104, WearX Nylon 6 136. Unfilled PA6 filament stays rare — most PA6 reaches the market glass- or carbon-filled[14][15]
Market availability1–5Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[9][10][14][16]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[14]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1, 5 and 10 kg spools[14][16]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 500 g and 750 g spools[14]
Typical applicationsEnclosures, automotive interior parts and tooling that must hold shape above PLA's 55 °C ceiling[1][18]Wear parts, bushings and gears where PA6's toughness and abrasion resistance matter more than dimensional stability[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C240–270 (Bambu Lab); 245–265 (Polymaker PolyLite)[5][1]220–260 (Polymaker); 225–265 (Simplify3D)[3][19]
Bed temperature°C80–100 (Bambu Lab); 90–100 (Polymaker)[5][1]70–100 (Polymaker); 70–90 (Simplify3D)[3][19]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Polymaker calls a chamber needed at ambient temperature, Bambu Lab requires an enclosed printer and rules out its P1P and A-series machines[1][20]Enclosure required (passive)[21][3]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[5]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–80 % (Bambu Lab); off (Polymaker PolyLite)[5][1]Part cooling fan not required (Simplify3D)[19]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue — Bambu Lab lists glue as the way to improve adhesion and prevent warping[20]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[19][3]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s10–16 (PrusaSlicer guidance for ABS/ASA)[22]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts; Bambu Lab attributes surface cracking to cooling stress exceeding interlayer adhesion[20]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[20]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[19][3]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight[1]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[3]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[20][1]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; the filament must be kept dry throughout the print[3][23]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[20]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[20]Non-abrasive when unfilled[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — no special hot-end required and clogging is not among the listed drawbacks; Prusa lists no drybox and no hardened nozzle[24][25]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet nylon pops and cracks in the melt[26][23]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[24]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[19]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[24]May require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[19]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.65 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); Polymaker measures 0.51 % maximum uptake for ABS Pro[5][6]Very high (>2 %) — Polymaker groups nylon with PVA as the most moisture-prone class, and its own PA6-based composites reach 2.35–3.33 % equilibrium[23][27]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.65 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.51 maximum (Polymaker ABS Pro)[5][6]Not documented
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab); 70 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)[5][1]100 °C for 8 h (Polymaker CoPA); storage below 20 % RH[21][28]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[23]Popping and cracking during extrusion, then defects that Polymaker describes as very hard to diagnose[26]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; the loss appears as poor layer adhesion and surface defects rather than a stated strength delta[23]Measured dry against wet on printed specimens at 6.16 % moisture (Polymaker CoPA): tensile 78.0 → 34.3 MPa, Young's modulus 2703 → 724 MPa, flexural strength 109.8 → 22.6 MPa, while notched Charpy rises 6.9 → 27.7 kJ/m² and elongation 12.7 → 13.2 %[21][26]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and advises periodic drying in humid climates[23]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant; Polymaker says nylon often needs to stay in a dryer while printing[28][23]
Hydrolysis at melt temperatureNot documentedPolymaker requires a 100 °C dry for 8 h and storage below 20 % RH; no molecular-weight loss figure is published, and the published wet data is conditioning rather than melt hydrolysis[21][28]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa33 ± 3 (Bambu Lab) to 35 (Polymaker ABS Pro and Max) printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 42 at break[5][6][7][29]62 at break (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned to 20 °C / 50 % RH gives 67.6 ultimate and 49.3 at yield printed XZ (ASTM D638)[8][30]
Young's modulusMPa2200 ± 190 (Bambu Lab) to 2330 (Polymaker ABS Pro) printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 1950[5][6][29]2110 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 2232 printed XZ and 1817 ZX (ASTM D638)[8][30]
Elongation at break%6.7 (ABS Max) to 10.5 (Bambu Lab) at break, printed XY, ISO 527[5][6][7]9 at break (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 38 printed XZ against 3.2 in ZX (ASTM D638)[8][30]
Flexural strengthMPa60 (ABS Pro) to 63 (ABS Max) printed XY, ISO 178; Bambu Lab 62 ± 4; 3DXTech quotes 76[5][6][7][29]78 (printed XY, ISO 178, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 97.2 printed XZ and 82 ZX (ASTM D790)[8][30]
Flexural modulusMPa1880 ± 110 (Bambu Lab) to 2500 (ABS Max) printed XY, ISO 178[5][7]2200 (printed XY, ISO 178, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 2196 printed XZ and 1879 ZX (ASTM D790)[8][30]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²10.5 (ABS Max) and 14.5 (ABS Pro) printed XY, ISO 179, notched; PolyLite ABS 18.0 ± 0.9 and Bambu Lab 21.5 ± 2.2[1][6][7][5]Not documented
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 39.3 ± 3.6 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179); notched 21.5 ± 2.2[5]Izod notched 106 J/m printed XZ against 43 J/m in ZX; unnotched 2873 against 192 J/m (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6, conditioned 20 °C / 50 % RH, ASTM D256 Method A) — a 15x anisotropy unnotched[30]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21.9 (ABS Pro) to 29.7 (PolyLite) printed Z, ISO 527; Bambu Lab 28 ± 2[5][1][6]36.5 ultimate and 28.9 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6, conditioned 20 °C / 50 % RH, ASTM D638)[30]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[5][1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedShore D 86 and Rockwell 85 (108) — the source does not name the scales on extruded unfilled PA66 stock (ASTM D2240, D785); no figure is published for a PA6 filament[31]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate — no printed-ABS creep test found; Tg of 101–126 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening, unlike PLA[1][6][7]Moderate[3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no printed-ABS S-N curve found; 10.5 % elongation and 21.5 kJ/m² notched Charpy give far more cyclic tolerance than PLA[5][32]Excellent — living hinges viable[3]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[5]Semi-flexible[26]
Z strength as % of XY%85 (Bambu Lab, printed Z against XY tensile); 63 for Polymaker ABS Pro[5][6]54 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned, ZX against XZ ultimate tensile, ASTM D638); 59 on the yield figures[30]
Wear resistance & frictionNot documented3DXTech sells a dedicated wear-resistant PA6 grade; abrasion resistance is the usual reason to choose PA6 over PA12[14]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C87 (Bambu Lab) to 118 (Polymaker ABS Max), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa; PolyLite ABS 100[5][1][7]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C84 (Bambu Lab) to 113 (Polymaker ABS Max), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa; PolyLite ABS 98[5][1][7]93 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6, conditioned, ASTM D648 at 264 psi)[30]
Glass transition (Tg)°C101 (PolyLite) to 126 (ABS Max), DSC; 105 quoted by 3DXTech[1][7][29]105 (DSC, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy)[8]
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 104 (PolyLite) to 127 (ABS Max), ISO 306[1][7]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°C101 measured on a loaded glass-filled ABS bar (My Tech Fun); unfilled ABS is bounded by its 84–98 °C heat deflection[33][5][1]Not documented
Annealing responseDecomposition above 380 °C (PolyLite ABS, TGA)[1]Not documented
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K86 ± 3 at 0° and 89 ± 3 at 90° raster (printed, fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C); 82 for a neat large-format bead at 30 °C[34][35]81.0 on extruded unfilled PA66 stock (ASTM D696; source states 4.5e-5 in/in/°F); no figure is published for a PA6 filament, and PA6 and PA66 expand almost identically[31]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard ABS, though V-0 grades exist[36][5]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the unfilled filament grades surveyed[8]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement[18]Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows and chalks under UV[3]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; poor against strong acids; dissolved by acetone[1]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis — the usual reason to choose a polyamide[3]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption[5]Absorbs water, properties shift — a conditioned part is measurably softer and larger than the same part dry[26][21]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[18]Polymaker notes medical-grade variants exist, but standard filament is not food-contact certified[3]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[18]Not biodegradable[3]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable as resin code 9, but not accepted in household plastic collection[18]Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[3]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[29]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[4][20]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[4]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[4]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon; total VOC reached nearly 200 µg/min, the highest of the nine filaments tested[4]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[4]≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[4]
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[4][20]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[4]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[4][20]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[4]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler; the usual preparation before painting[18]Sands poorly — the toughness makes it gum rather than powder[19]
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[1]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[19]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works — ABS dissolves in acetone[1]No practical vapour smoothing[19]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[37][20]PVA dissolves cleanly against nylon; Polymaker sells a break-away PolySupport for PA12[19]
Dimensional accuracy & detailWarping and cooling-stress cracking are the accuracy limits, not shrinkage of the melt[20]Parts grow as they absorb moisture after printing; Polymaker declines to publish a standard dimensional allowance because it depends on geometry and infill[26]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[38][1]Dissolved at 23 °C by formic acid above ~50 %, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — laboratory reagents.[39]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[38][40]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack it — 10 % marginal, 37 % not resistant; alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it.[39]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[41]None — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[39]

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. PolyLite ABS Technical Data Sheet (V5.5 served at this URL) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  2. Safety Data Sheet SDS20250724B00 — Bambu ABS Bambu Lab · 2025-07 · msds
  3. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  4. 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
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  7. Polymaker ABS Max Technical Data Sheet V1.1 (2026-06-01) Polymaker · 2026-06 · tds
  8. iOn PA6-based Nylon Alloy Technical Data Sheet v2.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  9. ABS — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. SUNLU ABS 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. IEMAI ABS 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. YXPOLYER PA6 Black 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. YXPOLYER ABS Squirrel Grey product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  20. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  21. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  22. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  23. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  24. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  27. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  28. PolyMide CoPA — Technical Data Sheet page Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  29. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  30. FDM Nylon 6 — data sheet (conditioned 20 °C / 50 % RH) Stratasys · 2017-11 · tds
  31. TECAMID 66 natural (PA66) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  32. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  33. ABS-GF vs PET-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  34. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  35. 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
  36. Firewire Flame Retardant ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  37. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  38. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  39. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  40. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  41. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc